IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0     !lf» 


28 


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1.25 


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II  2.2 

1 2.0 

1.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadion  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


□ 


D 


n 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couvertjre  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pelliculie 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  iorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 


The( 
to  th 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


n 


v/ 


n 


v 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pagas  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit^  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t^  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
poss 
of  th 
filmi 


Origi 
begir 
the  li 
sion, 
othe 
first 
sion, 
or  illi 


The  I 
shall 
TINU 
whic 

Map! 
diffei 
entin 
begir 
right 
requi 
meth 


□ 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

i 

y 

12X                               16X                              20X 

24X                              28X                              32X 

» 

The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  roproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  I'exemplaire  U\m6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  foit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commengant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  appara?tra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  etre 
film^s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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TlIK 


IIDIAN  RACES 

OF  NORTH  i\D  SOl'TII 

AMERICA 


® 


COMPRISI'^a 

AN  ACCOUNT  or  TlIK   FRINCIPAL  ABORKJINAL  RACKS; 

A    DKHCMPTION   OP  THEIR  NATIONAL  CUerOMS,   MYTHOLOlJY, 

ANO  RELKirol'S  CKRI'.MONIES  ;    THE   IIIHTORY  OF  TIIKIR  MOST  POWKR- 

rUL     rRUlES,    AND    OF    THEIR    MOST    CKLKBRATKD    C1I1KF8    AND    WARIUOR8  ; 

•niKIR    l.NTKRCOURSK    AND    WARS    WITH    THE    EUROPEAN    BI:TTLERS ; 

AND  A  ORliAT  VARIETY  OF  A.VECDOTK   AND   DKSCRIPTION,  II.LfB- 

THATIVK    OF    PERSONAL    AND    NATIONAL    CIIARAUTEB. 

BY 

CHARLES  DE  VVOLF  BROWNELL. 


WITH 

VUMKROrS  AND  P  I  V  KK?I  l- I  E  D  fOLORED  ILLUSTRATIONS 

KNTIRILT    NKW,    MANY    l)F    WHICH    »RK    FROM    ORIOISAI,    DKSIODS, 

KXECLTtD  IN  THE  BEST  STYI.K  OF  TlIK  AUT,  IIY  THE  FIRST  ARTISTS  IN 

AMEUICA. 


PUBUSUEl)  BY  SUnsCRIPTlON  ONLY. 


NEW  YORK: 

rLlUJSIIED  AT  THE  AMERICAN  SUBSCRIPTION  HOUSE, 

AND  AT  THE  BRANCHES  '.N  PIIILADRLPIIIA,  BALTIMORE.  NEW  ORLEANS,  AND 

CHICAGO. 
L.  StebHns,   ffnrlford,   Conn. 


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KN  rUiKD    ACCOKUING  TO  ACT  O*"  CONGRLSS.  IN  TUK  YE-'Ji   le^O,  BY 

LUCIUS    STKHIMNS, 

JN  THE  CLERK'S  OFFICE  OF  TIIE  DISTRICT  COLin  OF  CONNECTICUT 


rOL'NDHV   or 

S      ANHUfS    ANII    SON, 

HABTroHD. 


PKKM   Or 

wai.ti:k  s.   wim.iams, 

HAKTFOMD. 


PREFACE. 


From  the  size  of  tlila  volume,  as  compared  with  the  variety  and 
extent  of  the  subjects  under  exumiimtion,  it  will  be  readily  perceived 
tliiit  mituiteiH'ss  of  detail  has  been  impossible. 

Ill  describing'  the  adventures  and  proeeedinjfs  of  the  pioneers  in 
the  settlement  and  eivili/ation  of  the  VWstern  Continent,  tiiii  interest- 
iiiy  nature  of  the  narrative  may  have  led  the  author,  in  some  instances, 
away  from  the  immediate  ol)ject  of  his  attention,  viz:  the  manners, 
pi^ciiliarities,  and  history  of  the  aboriginal  iiiiiabitants.  He  trusts,  how- 
ever,  that  where  this  may  a{)pear  to  be  the  case,  it  will  generally  bo 
found  to  have  resulted  from  the  inseparalile  manner  in  which  the  his- 
tory of  the  natives  and  those  who  have  supplanted  them  is  interwoven. 

So  far  as  has  proved  convenient  or  practicable,  localities  will  be 
four  d  to  be  in  such  a  manner  pointed  out  or  referred  to,  that  the  reader 
who  is  ordinarily  well  acquainted  with  the  geography  of  the  country 
will  seldom  be  at  fault.  Upon  this  point,  the  opening  of  the  fifth 
book  of  "The  True  Travels,  Adventures,  and  Observations  of  Ca|)- 
taine  lohn  Smith,'  is  worthy  the  attention  of  all  historical  writers.  It 
runs  thus: 

"Before  we  present  you  the  matters  of  fact,  it  is  fit  to  oflur  to 
your  view  the  Stage  whereon  they  were  acted;  for,  as  Geography  with- 
out History  seemeth  a  carkasso  without  motion,  so.  History  without 
Geography  wandereth  as  a  Vagrant,  without  a  certaine  habitation." 

The  works  whieh  have  been  carefully  examined  by  the  author  in 

the  prosecution  of  his  design,  and  from  which  most  of  the  facts  em. 

bodied  in  this  outline  of  history  and  description  iiave  been  obtjuned, 

are  the  following; 

Aiucriciin  Antiquities  and  Resenrches  into    The  Natural    Flistory  of   Man;    l)y  Juinet 

the  OriKin  htkI  !li«t(iry  of  the  Red  Race;  ;      Cowles  Prichard; 

by  Alfxander  W.  (liadt'oid  ;  /  Letlerx  and  Notes  on  the  Manners,  Customs, 

Tlie  Bti>i?nii>liy  and   History  of  the   Indians        and  Condition  of  tlie  North  American  In- 

of  North  America;  by  !?amuel  (i.  Drake  ;       dians;  by  George  Catliii ; 


ill 


111 


f-  ■    K 


s^#^ 


1 


rUl'IKACl 


Tlio  Ill«l(iry,  (Iiiiiilillon,  iiml  I'm-) in  of  llif 

hicli.'iii  Tnlii'i  III' till'  l/'iiili'il  Sliilt'N ;  by 
lli'Miy  li.  ScliuiiUnilt,  l.li.  U; 

Till'  I'liili'il  Siiih'^'  i:x|iliiri[ii<  Kx|i(!jltl(iii ; 
liy  (/'iiiiiiiiiuMli'r  (.'liuili'H  W'ilki'x; 

liiiliiiii  illiii;rn|iliy  ;  liy  11.  II.  Tliiiclit'r  ; 

Mi;  IiiIiihIi'h  IlimU  of  tlii>  liiiliiiiis; 

Tiiivc'ln  1)1'  (;m|i|.  Jntiiilliiiii  (,'arvir  lliriim,'li 
llir  liili^iiiir  III'  Nmlli  Aiin'iii'ii.  in  l77('>-7-H  ; 

liitliiin  VVim  111'  llii!  Uiilli'd  Hliiti'«;  by  Wil- 
lliirii  V.  Mdnri;; 

Till'  lliwiiiiy  (if  ttin  C.>ii(|iii'st  (if  Mi'XKMi; 
I'l'oiii  till!  .-<|l;llli^ll  III' Dull  Aiitiiiiio  Do  S  ills; 

Thi^  ('iiiii|ii('^l  (if  .Mi'xicii;  by  Itcrniil  Dlii/. 
(Ii'l  C'uvtillii,  Ui'iiiiliir  (if  till!  rily  tif  (Jiuili!- 
iii.'ila,  vMiltrii  III  l.'ilW  ; 

Prusciitl'i*  Ciiii(|\ii  Ml  nf  Mi'Xico; 

Cuii(|iii!!<t  (if  .Mi'xicii  mill  I'l'i'u ;  llai'iier's 
M'linH  of  I'lili's  fiom  .'Vmi'iiciiii  lli.itoiy  ; 

Riibi'itHdri's  History  of  .AiiH'rlca; 

Tint  liiviiKloii  ami  Ciiii(|iiu.'4l  of  Florida,  un- 
der lliiiiiaiido  di)  Hdlii,  wiittmi  by  u  (,'eii- 
lliimaii  (if  iht)  town  of  Klvas; 

livliig'n  t'nrii|iii'.'(l  of  I'loilda; 

TJm  Tcriilory  of  I'loiida  ;  by  Jubii  I.pi'  Wil- 
liams ; 

Tim  True  TravcN,  Advciiliircs,  anil  '  Hijicrvii- 
liiriis  of  t'MplaiiKi  iuliii  Siiiiih;  fri^in  Ihu 
London  cditiiin  of  lU'.i<); 

Till!  Ml'e  of  Captain  John  Smith;  by  W.  C 
Simma ; 

Tlio  Ilistoiy  (if  tlio  Indiana  of  Conneclicut; 
by  John  VV.  Dn  Forii!^! ; 

BnvliitM  Mi'nioirs  of  I'lyinoiith  Colony  ; 

Barber's  lli^^lorical  Collections,  in  Mos.ta- 
chnssells  and  Coimecticiit ; 

The  Rev.  William  lliibtiaid's  Narrative  of 
the  Indian  Wars  in  New  Knulaiid  ;  wril- 
teii  in  1775  ; 

The  History  of  Philip's  War ;  by  Thoiims 
Churidi,  ft  son  of  Ciipt.  lienjaiiiin  Cliuich  ; 

New  Km,'laii(rs  Memorial;  by  Nathaniel 
Morton,  published  in  Kili'J; 

The  Piiblicaliiins  of  the  Masriachussetts  His- 
torical Society,  espiicially  those  relaliiit!tii 
till)  Karly  Settlements  in  New  Kni,'land ; 
iiictudiiiK,  ainoni;  other  docut.KUits,  the 
Relations  of  (J.  Moiirt  and  E.  Winslow 
concernint;  the  Pili,'iiin9  at  Plymouth ; 
Letters  ftiid  Writings  of  Roller  Williams; 
Gookin's  Historical  Collections,  ice,  &.C. 

Schoolcrui't's  Notes  on  the  Iroquois; 


Stone's  Life  of  Jos.  I!niiil     Th.i)eM.liineif«H; 
.Memoirs  of    William    P'lin ;    by    Thomiia 

(JIarksoii ; 
Heekeweldiir's  Narrativi)  of  llie  .Mis«iiHi  of 

the  Culled  llri'lhri'ii  ainoni;  the  liel  iwura 

and  .Moliei,Mii  Indians ; 
The  l.ile  of  U'llli.im  Henry  Hani-on,  with  h 
■  lli-liiry  of  the  Wars  with  the  llnlish  and 

Indians  on  our  Nmlh-westi  rii  riiintieis  ; 
The    AdveiiluieM  of  D.iniel    Ituuiie;  by   (ho 

author  of  Uncle  Philip's  (.'oiiverKations  ; 
The   History  of  the   Aimriran    Iniliaiis;  by 

James   .Adair,  lor  forly   years   a   ii'sidiiil 

and  triidcr  aiieiiii.'  them  ; 
Coblielt's  1, lie  of  Andrew  JacNsMii; 
The    History   of  (;eo|•^'ia;    by    Capt.    Iluijh 

McCall; 
The  .Adventures  of  Ciipt.  Iloniievillii  in  tlio 

I'ar  West,  and  anions'  the  Kmrky  Moun- 
tains; by  Washiimtori  Irvini;; 
Cox's  Adventures  on  the  Colniiiliia  liiver; 
Harrow's  \'oyiit;es  of  Discovery  and  liesearch 

wilhin  the  Arctic  Ueitions; 
Hack's  Narrative  of  the  Arctic  Land  i;xpo- 

ditioii ; 
(ireenlaiid,  the  Adjacent  Seas,  and  the  North- 
west Passiiu'e;   by  lleriiard  O'Kiilly; 
Parry's  Journal  of  a  second  voyaue   for  the 

Discovery  of  a  Norlli-west  Passage; 
Mackenzie's  Inland  Kxpedltion  to  the  Arctio 

Ocean ; 
Purcha.s,  his  Piltrrimaife; 
The   Modern  Traveller;  by  Josiali  Condor, 

Articles  on  South  .America; 
Spanish  .AnuMJca;  by  H.  H.  lioiinycustle ; 
Irvine's  Life  of  Columbus; 
Indian  Tribes  of  (jiuiana;    by   Rev.  W.   II. 

Hretl ; 
Alexander  do  Humboldt's  Travels  In  South 

.America; 
Prescotl's  Con,|nest  of  Peru  ; 
Travels  in  Peru;  by  Dr.  J.J.  Von  TschudI, 

translated  from  the  (Jerman  by  Tliorni'.sina 

Ross  ; 
The  (;eoi;raphic::l.  Natural,   and   Civil  His- 
tory   of  Chili;  by   Abbe  don  J.   Ii,'natiiM 

Molina;  translated  I'roni  the  orii^iniU  IlaN 

ian  by  an  American  (ienllenian; 
John   Mawu's  Travels    in   the   Interior   of 

Urazil ; 
Head's  Journey   t)    the   Pampas    and   I'll* 

Andes. 


"  1 

! 


CONTKNTS. 


OF^NKRAL    CllAUACTKlvIKTIC'S  ^^(>n 

CiiAPi  Kn  I.    Oii«iti  (ii  iiiii  Niiilli  Aiiicnciiii  liitliniiK— iSiniii!  ol  lliflr  (•ciiurnl  CMiituiiia 

lllltl  Pi  CUlilllillcH,. ,  ,"( 

CiiAiTKK  II.     Uclini.iii  of  tliM  liidiiiiiM -Their  Wciipniw  and  PyHlcin  of  Wiirfiiru— 

Tlicir  I'IkIkiii),'".  Drt'HH,  OriiiiiiiL-iibi,  &c '£> 

AMKi;iCAM    ANTIQUITIES. 

CiupTKR  I.     (Tnili'il  SliitfH' Tnriti>rj',  tci 30 

CiiAi'TKH  II.     Aiilii|iiiii('s  of  .Mexioi,  tc 44 

CUAPTKK  III.     Aiitl>|iutii'H  (if  Siiiilli  Ainc'i'icii, 49 

THK    AliORIOINES    OF  MEXICO. 

Ciui'TKR  I.     (Iciicriii  KciniirkH — l''.X|ir(lllioii  of  (irljiilvn — ll('riwu\(lo  Cortcz,    .        .        54 

I'liAi'TEK  II.     HiilllfM  Willi  the  NiitiviH—UiiiH'iliiiloiy  liiUTCoiiri"!' — llniiiiii  .Miiriiiii,     .     01- 

•  iiAi'iKK  III.  CiiiMiiiiiiilcatidriii  with  llii^  N'i'xiciiii  Kin|i<'roi' — The  /eiiipoullitim  iiikI 
(^iu:ivir*llaMH, GH 

CiiAprKii  IV'.  The  Miirch  to  TIii."ChIii — (>ccu|iiti()ii  of  the  (Jily — (ireut  Miussiicre  nl 
Cliolulu— Kiitriiiioo  into  the  City  of  Mexico,  iiiid  Interview  with  Montezuniii — 
Dcsrriptioti  of  the  Temple,  4.C 77 

CiiAPTKR  V.  Hei/.uro  and  IinpriBonnient  of  .Miiiite/.iiniii— Kxecutiori  (jf  Qniilpoporu 
iiiid  his  (JoinpiiiiiDiiH — Oiniiioiiw  TrohpecLs— IvxpiMlitioii  of  I'iiinpliilo  de  Niirviiez — 
Siicct'sa  of  Corlez   iifjiiinst  him  —  Return   to   Mexico — <)iitrm<c   hy   AlvHriido,  iiiid  ^. 

C'<iniie(juent   Trouhles — Deiilh   of    .Montezuniu — Tliu   *' J,'uclie    'J'rt.ite''' — lliitlle   of      J^ 
ohtnniha,  Hiid  Arrival  nl  Tliixcnln, 87^ 

CiiAi'TKR  VI.  Preparations  fur  the  Attack  on  tlit-  City  of  .Mexico— DuildinK  nn<l  Trans- 
piprlation  of  IlriKanliiicH — SieL'e  hiid  to  the  City — .A.^sault  by  the  Spaniard.-,  and  their 
I{epul»<( — Sacrifice  <if  Prisoners — Capltue  of  (Janlnnozin— Coni(ue»t  of  the  Capital,     96 

CiiAi'TKR  Vll.  Ilchiiildin^  of  the  City— K.Tlension  of  Spanish  Powers— The  March 
lo  Honduras— Execution  of  CJautimozin— Donnu  Muriim— Modern  Mexico,     .        .  106 

THE    FLORIDA    INDIANS. 

CiiAPTKR  I.  Early  Expeditions  of  Spanish  Adventurers — Ponce  de  I^eon — I,.  Vela»- 
(jnez  de  .\yllon — l'am[)hilo  de  Narvaez — I'ernando  de  Solo:  his  I.undinK  and  Kstab- 
IMiment  at  Tampa— Story  of  John  Ortiz,  a  Spanish  Captive  uin()n«  the  Indians,        110 

CiiAPi  KR  II.  ProttreSN  Ncjrthward— Contests  with  the  Natives — Vitachiico — Expedi- 
tion to  Ciilifachifnu —  Departure  for  the  West, 110 

Chaptkr  III.  Erom  Ow  Coiuineat  hy  I)e  Soto  ;«  the  Year  1618 — Missionary  Opt-ra- 
lions  by  the  Spaniards — Moore's  Invasion  of  Elorida — Howies — Wars  of  1812 — 
Defeat  of  the  Seminolea  by  (ieneral  Jackson 122 

Chapter  IV.  Commencement  of  the  late  I'lorida  War— Treaty  of  Moultrie  Creek — 
Tr>aty  of  Payne's  l.andin;,'— Osceola— Destruction  of  Dade's  Command — Battle  of 
the  Ouithlucoochie— Conference  with  Inilian  Ch  efs  by  General  Caines,   .        .        .  126 

CiiAi'TKR  V.  Condition  of  Eiust  I'lorida— (Jen.  .Scott's  Ciiniijainn— (iarrisoi.  besieged 
on  the  ()nilbl!ieo<irliie — ( )c('urrenc(  s  diniiij,'  the  Hummer  of  IrliO— .Arrival  of  Creek 
Ailii's— (."nionel  Lane's  Expedition  from  Tiinipa — Battle  of  the  Wahoo  Swamp — 
(Jenera;  Jessiip  apjioiiited  to  tin;  comunmd  in  Flori<la, l;)4 


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•)  CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

CiiAPTiR  VI.  rurNiilt  of  tlin  Pominolm  Hdutliwiinl— Ei)Ri)unt«>r  on  thu  lliitclioo  l.iiic 
l)'<i '('iiiiri'riiiK'K  mill  Tiiirn  wllh  llin  Inillitim- Kriii'Wiil  of  llm  Tii'iily  iif  l'ii)iii''« 
I'UiiilliiK— Ni'kIi'i'I  >•■■  tint  purl  of  lliu  liiilinii*  lii  ci>iii|ily  Willi  itn  I'iiiVIniuiin  -(^ujc 
lure,  Siirri'iiilrr,  iiiiil  Tri'iichtiroiia  Hitlsiirn  or  varloiia  Cliliif* — Uculli  of  Onct'nU— 
Coliiiii'l  Tiiyliir'H  ('iun|mlKii,  ,        , 140 

CiiAi'TiR  VII.  Viirloiiii  Mitiiir  Kti|{HK<''>><'»t>i— Hiirrttiidcr  u(  I.iirKu  NiiiiilMtrn  t>r  lii- 
tliuiDi— C'liiilliiiiitiicw  of  I)ii|iriMliiliiiiiii  IIIimmI-IiimiiiiIh  riiiiii  <.'ul>n  — ,>ttitck  ii|iiiii  a 
()oiii|iniiy  of  ArUini — Hniiiliiiile  (/'liicl'it  lirmiKhl  liiii:k  rroin  tliit  VVoit  In  ri'|Miit  tlii-lr 
(.'iiiiilitiiiii  to  llii-ir  <,'iiiiiilryiiii'ii— (/'iiliiiii'l  lliiriiry'.i  Kx|irilitii>ii  to  tliu  KvitkIuiIi'S— 
Kiiil  uf  lliu  Wur — liiUiiuiii  iilii|i|if(l  VVt^Hl — Niiiiilii'r!i  null  rciiiuiiiiiig  iu  Kluridii,    .      1-15 

THK    INDIANS    OF    VIKOINIA 

CiiArTtR  I.  Kxpnilltliiii  (if  Aiiililim  iiiiil  lliirlnw — Of  Sir  Itlrhnrd  (troiivilln — Of 
lliirtliiiltiniitw  (lOSiioll,  Willi  Ciipliilii  .'^iiiitli  'HtiUiitiiU'iit  at  Jitim-Ktowii— Vinil  lu 
I'liwliittitii  -  liiipniviili'iicx  mill  Diniciiltii'g  uf  llii-  Ciiliiiii.tiH— Kxpioruliuii  t>r  llio 
('liirkiiliiiniiiiy— Hinilh  liikcii  rnmiiittr— IIIh  rritiitiiiciil  by  llm  IikIiiiiik,    .        .        .131 

('iiAi>TicR  II.  t'liiirt  ol  i'liwliiitiiii -SiiiiIIi'h  I'ii'mtviiIiiiii  liy  l'n<  .iliiiiitil.t— Siipplii-i 
liy  lilt'  liiilmiiH— Newport's  Arrival-  Siiijlli's  Kxpi'dilioiiH  up  llic  (,'ln'wipriikf,     .       I'JII 

Ciui'TiK  III.  (.'iiroiialion  of  I'owlialKii— Siiiilli'H  Vmit  to  Wiirownconiocti  for  !:lii|>- 
plii'K — Tri'iiclii-ry  of  Powlintiiii— Siiiilli  a  m-coiiil  liiiiu  IVrNrrvtsI  by  Pooaliontnii — 
ViMit  111  I'aiMiiiiky — FIkIiI  Willi  Ihi-  Kiiii,'  of  Piispiilic«li--.'\^<('i'iidaiiry  of  llio  Kinjlixli,  171 

CiiAl'TKK  IV.  DislrnHK  of  till!  lloioiiic!!— Marliii  and  Wful's  ^'^•lll^'Mlt•Ill>^— Arrival  of 
I.oid  I)i'  la  VVarrii— Ui'laliulioiis  upon  iliii  Nalivi'i — Sfi/.iin-  of  F'ntiilioiiias:  llur 
Marriai{i'  -I'l'iio!  wllli  lliti  liidinim— riKMilioiiluH  vitiit»  Kiit{l»iid:  llcr  Dualh— Death 
of  I'owliutaii— Pory'«  .Stittlenimil, 181 

CiiAPTKR  V.  Tlio  VirKJiilu  Masaauru  of  10'J2  and  of  1041  (or  1044)— Dealli  of  Opo- 
rhaiirarioiiKh, 101 

CiiAPTKR  VI.   Hinitli'ii  Accuuntof  the  Niiiiibuni,  Aiipearuncouiid  lIubilHof  lliu  Indians,  1U4 

NKW   KNOT, AND    INDIANS, 

CuAPTKR  I.  Conduct  of  tliij  Kurly  Voyiixeis— Arrival  of  llio  May-Klower— Siunosnt — 
TiMiiiiiuiliini— MiiMHiimiit— Wesloii'HC'oioiiy — Caiinbitaiit'sConNplrHoy — Trade  in  KIre 
Arms— TlioH.  Morton— Death  of  MassiiHoit  niiil  .Alexander,  and  Aecesxjon  ol  Philip,  199 

CiiArTKK  II.  The  NiirriuiaiiHelt.s— The  Pe(iiiol«— Murder  of  mono  i.nd  (ildhuin— 
Kiidicoll''*  Kxpedition— Till!  Peipiol  War— Deslruution  of  the  IVquol  Fort— The 
Tribe  Dinperned  and  Subdued, 21'!) 

Chaptck  III.  Quarrel  between  tho  NarniKimm'ttH  and  .MohoKans -IJnciia  and  Mian- 
toninio — The  .Mohegan  Land  ControverMy — Subsequent  Condition  of  thu  PeijUols 
mid  Moheunns, 2)0 

CiiAPTKR  IV.  The  Indians  furniHhed  with  Fire-Arms— Situation  of  tho  Colonisds — 
Philip's  Accession — His  Trealiim  wilh  the  Whiles— His  True  Plans — Kinissiiries 
sent  to  SoKkoiiato— Captain  Benjamin  Church— Ills  Interview  with  Awoshonks— 
Murder  of  John  Sassanion, 228 

CiiAHTKR  V.  Attack  on  Swansey— Collection  of  Troops — Fight  at  Miles'  Bridge — 
Philip  driven  from  the  Neck— (Umrch  at  Ptinkalose — Destruction  of  Bronktleld,     .  23T 

CuAfTEH  VI.  Philip  moves  Westward— A Itackc,  on  Hiidley  and  Deerlleld— (Joffe  the 
Regicide— Destruction  of  I-athrop'sConimand— AsaauUsonSiiriiigfleld  and  Hatfield 
—  Kxpedition  against  the  Nurragansells:  tlutrageous  Cruelties  in  their  Kediiclion— 
Philip  oil  the  Hudson— Destruct'n  of  Lancaster,  Medlleld,  Seekonk,Uroton,Warwick, 
Marlborough,  4.c.— Canonchel  taken,  and  put  to  Death— Further  Indian  Ravages,    216 

CuAfTitK  VII.  Philip's  Return  to  Pokanoket— Major  Talcott's  Successes- Church 
CiiiiiiiiissioTied  by  the  Court  at  Plymouth — His  Interview  with  Awoshonks:  wilh 
the  SogkoiialPs  at  Sandwich— His  Campaign  against  the  Indians— Philip  sei^ii :  his 
Wife  and  Sou  taken— Death  of  Weelauiore,  Queen  of  Pucasset— Death  uf  Philip,  .  2.')0 


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CONTKNTS.  7 

CiiAPTtR  VIII.  PnrHiill  nf  Anniiwiin  mid  111'*  Piiiiy  — Diirlin  PMiTiliin-  of  rii|iliilii 
ClMircli  — f;ii(l  of  iliH  Wiir,  tiiiij  Kiiml  I)ii'|iomil  iH'Prlwmcru  -Huniniiiry  of  itn'C'oloiiliil 
I .,,«.. 267 

Cii'tiTrii  IX.  Tin- I'.ii^ltTii  liiillnim — Tlx'lr  FrlciKlly  Ditjiimilion -.^'iziirn  of  tlioso 
inipliriili'il  in  PIiiIi|)'h  rorixiiiriioy  — Kifiic'li  iiinl  liiiliiiii  War  in  IIWll  -NUiick  on  ('<>- 
cticrn  -MiinliT  of  Mnjor  VViililron— Wiir  of  170**— Cliurcli'i  LmI  OiimpnlKii— VV'Hr 
of  IT'.^'J— i'ii|iliilii  John  l.ovi>Wfll, S7'>* 

THK   IROQnOIH,   OR    KIX    NATIONS 
rM«i'rrB  I.    rJiMHTril  Oiillint'n  of  OhiirnctiT,  kc— linprcMloiin  of  ihn  Inhnbllnnt*  of 

.Ni'W  r,iiul#n<l  rc«i|i<'(Miin{  tli«  lro(|iiols— (iiirnn«iilii:  Mm  Spt-rch  to  M.  lie  In  Unrrx,     2H0 
('iui'TkhII.      lro(|iiol!(  Tr;»liiiori    n-liitlvo  to  llicir   KornHT  History — A   llncf   Ar- 

iMiint  of  llin  (llfTiTcnt  trilit-H  liclotiKini;  to  iho  ConfiMlcrnry,  unU  the  maniiprof  ilirir 

I'liinii  -Iticidcntu  of  Knily  Wnrfiirt', yfll 

I'll  MMKH  III.    Inipiirtiiht  Clmrnrit'iH  nnd  Kvcnti  of  the  Kii<liti'oiith  tVnlury— Brant — 

('i'i'-<ii|i'>*  War,  mid  History  of  I.oKiin, 203 

I  iiAi-'iKK  IV.    History  of  llrmit  conliniixd:  Connexion  of  tho  Six  Nations  witli  llio 

Wiir  of  tliH  Ainitrionn  IlfVi^iitlon, 30>J 

('iiAi-TKR  V.     t'ontimintioii  of  Hovi'liiliciimry  Incident^ nill 

t'liAiTKR  VI.     (Icncriil  Siillivmi's  CitnipiiiKii  n(?iiiii»l  Itiu  Iroqiioid— SuliiwqiieiR  VViir- 

|jl<i- I  )|ii'riilinnN  nf  the  NiUionx, 'J2I 

Cii  M'lKii  \ll.    f'oiMlitlon  of  tilt!  Six  Nations  diib<<pqupnl  to  the  Revolution— Conclii- 

siiiii  111'  Itrmit's  History — Ili'd-.lacl<i't  and  Corii-Plaiitcr, 3'J7 

C'liAi-Tkiit  VIII.    Present  Condition  of  tlui  !^ix  Nationis 3il(i 

PONTIACS  WAR 
CiiAfrrR  I.    Frrnch  Inflnenco  ov«r  the  Indians— British  Occiipalion  of  the  Western 

I'nsls—Poiitiar   and  his  Plans  for  exterininaliiiK  the  Knijlish, 310 

CiupricK  II.    Sicgt)  of  Uelroit— llattlt!  of  lllomly  Kridi<t>, 344 

THE  DELAWARES,  SHAWANEES, 

AVn    OTHER    TKDlKa    OF     TH  K    MIDnLR    AND    WISTKkN    STATIS 

CiiAPTrR  I.  The  Dohiwarcs- William  Pcnn— St.  Tammany- Tho  MorBvians— The 
SliawaiuH's— Kienrh  and  Indian  War— Ilradduck's  Defeat— Mitssacro  of  tho  Cmies- 
lou'H  Indians — Daniel  Hoone. 348 

CnAPTKR  II.  DiviMion  of  the  Delawnres— White-Eyes,  and  Pipe — Indian  Confederacy 
of  1781  — Altaek  on  Brymit's  Sti'lion,  mid  Hitllln  near  the  llluu  Licks— (ieiieral 
Clarke's  F,xpe<lition— Disastrous  Campaii,'n  of  llnrmar  and  Sl.Clnir—.Mililnry  Opera- 
tions of  (Jeneral  Wayne — Decisive  Ilallle  near  tho  Maninee  Rapids,  and  siibsetpient 
Treaty  of  Peace, Stil 

CiiAi'TKR  III.  Oindition  of  the  Indians  snhspqiienl  tn  the  Ponce— Tho  Prophet  V.Uh- 
walawa— Tecumseh:  His  Plans  and  Inlriifiies— C.eneral  Ilari-ison's  Kxpediiion 
auiiinst  the  Prophet's  town— Defeat  of  the  Indians  at  Tippecanoe— War  ol'  |h|>2— 
Harrison's  Invasion  of  Canada — Battle  of  the  Thames,  nnd  Death  of  Tecumseh,      .  HO 

CiiAHTER  IV.  Acquisition  and  Sale,  hy  the  'tailed  Slates,  of  Indian  (.and  in  llllnais 
—  Black-Hawk— The  Sacs  removed  westof  ihe  Missigsippi-Returii  of  Biack-llawk 
nnd  his  Followers— Defeat  of  Major  Slillmnn— The  lloslile  Indians  pursued  by  At- 
kinson nnd  Dodge— Their  Defeat  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi— Black-llawk'a 
Surrender— He  is  taken  to  Washington— His  Subsequent  Career,  ....      370 

INDI/NS   OF  THE  .SOUTHERN  STATES, 
Chaptbr  I.    Early  Location,  Numbers,  Character,  &c.,  of  theCatawbas;  of  thel^ppf>r 
and    Lower  Cherokees;  of  the   Miiscoi,'ees  or  Creeks;  of  the   Choclawn;  of  the 
Chickosaws— French  War  with  the  Natchez  and  Cbickasaws,    .  ...  333 


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CONTENTS. 


TATIC 

CiiAi'TKR  II.  Coloiiiziition  of  OcorKiii — Eiirly  Iiitrrc()urs(!  with  tliu  Natives — Timni- 
cliiclii — liilri(;iio8  of  tlio  Uiiveruiid  Thoiniis  niwoiiiworth — Chcrokct)  War  of  IT.'i'J— 
Atliikulliikiilla  uii(i  Occoiiostotii — MunltT  of  liidiiiii  lluclimtx— Ciiluiicl  iMoMlnnm- 
(•ry'M  Kx|)(!<liti(in — ni'struclion  of  tlio  Kiu'lcni  ClicrokcM  Tnwtis — lliiltle  iwiir  Ktclioo 
— Ciiiiiliilatioii  nt  Fori  Loudon — Indiiiii  Trtiiclicry — Ciitiipim?!!  of  Colomd  (Jriint, 
mid  (/'oiiiplctu  Ki:ductioii  of  thu  Cherokios, :)'.)() 

CiiAi'TER  III.  Cnptain  Slctiiirt's  Agency — Disturbiuice  in  17()7 — Visit  of  Tecuinncli  li> 
the  Houtlicrii  Tribi'8 — VVeiitlifrford— Suck  of  Fort  .Miiiirns— War  of  lHi:i— (Imicral 
Juckson's  Campaii^ii — Battles  on  the  TalliiHaliatcliee  ;  at  Talladcxa,  AiilosHee,  &c. — 
The  IlallibLcs— Defeat  of  tho  Indians  at  IIorHe-Shoe  Hend— Knd  of  l\w  War,  .         .  4(>,> 

Chapter  IV.  The  Uemovnl  of  tlie  Cherckeen  west  of  the  iMississippi — I'rescnt  Loca- 
tion and  Condition  of  the  other  Tribo.s  of  the  Southern  States,       .        •        .        .411 


NORTHERN    RACKS. 

Chapter  I.  The  Egqnimnux:  their  Manners  and  I'erMonal  Appearance— Acpnunts 
of  I'.arly  VoyaRera— Ksciuimaux  Ilabilatioiis,  Food,  fcc. — The  Kaiak  or  Canoe — 
Sealing — The  Rein-deer — Uses  of  the  Dog — Putriurchul  (Joverntneiit— Kffects  of 
Foreljin  Intercourse, 4I() 

CuAi-TKR  11.  Tho  Efl(iuiniaiiyof  Melville  Peninsula— Their  Stature  and  Costume — 
Snow  Huts  and  their  Furniture— Implements  for  Hunting  and  Sealing— Mental 
Traits, 40f 

Chapter  III.    The  Knistcnuaux,  Chippewa.*),  &.c 4111 


] 


VARIOUS    NATIONS  AND   TRIBES 

BKTWEKN    THK    MISSISSIPPI    AND    THE    PAririO    OCEAN. 

C^haptkr  I.    Tho  Sioux  or  Dahcotas,  and  other  Tribes  of  the  same  Race:  Classifica- 

tion— Tho  Mandans:  Their  Number,  Situation,  Villages,  tc— Their  Cemeteries —  1  ' 

AfTectionato  Remembrance  of  the  Dead, •        .       4-;;?      I  • 

Chapter  II.     Personal  Appearance  and  Peculiarities  of  the  Mandans — Their  Hospi-  ! 

tality  and  Urbanity— Their  Cleanliness  of  Person- Their  Dress— Portraits  of  Man-  I 

dan  Chiefs — Contrast  between  tho  Wild  Tribes  and  those  of  the  Frontier — Mnnilan 
Domestic  Usages— Games  and  Dances— Training  of  the  Youth— The  Great  Annual  ■  j 

Religious  Ceremony— The  Mandans  supposed  to  bo  of  Welsh  Descent— Annihila-  I  ! 

tion  of  tho  Tribe  by  the  Small-pox, 4  K> 

Chapter  III.  The  Sioux,  continued— Their  Mo('o  of  Life — Maternal  Afrection— Ex- 
posure of  the  Aged— The  famous  Quarry  of  Red  Pipe-alone— Nature  of  this  Material 
— Indian  Superstitir)n8  respecting  it— The  liison  or  liuffalo— Horses  of  the  Indians — 
Various  Modes  of  Hunting  the  Buffalo— Wastefid  Destruction  of  the  Herds,        .      45,"i 

Chapter  IV.  Indians  of  the  Great  Western  Prairies— Their  Summer  and  Winter 
I,odg(>s — Tho  Medicine-Rag— The  Crows  and  Ulackfeet— Races  Hostile  to  the  liilter 
Tribe— Fortitude  of  a  lilackfoot  Warrior— The  Crow  Chi^f  Arapooish  and  hisCiuest 
— Indian  Conceptions  of  u  Perfect  Country— Story  of  Loretto  and  his  Indian  Wife — 
Adventures  of  Kosato,  a  Hlaekfoot  Warrior, 4ri:i 

Chap-ikr  V.  Tribes  on  the  CoUmbia  and  it.s  Tributarii  -The  Nez-Perc^'s— Their 
R(!ligiou9  Charucte' — The  Walla-wallas— The  Chinooks— Mode  of  Flatteniiii,'  the 
Head— Tho  Botoque — Canoeo  of  tho  Tribes  on  the  Lower  Waters  of  the  Columbia 
—Fishing — Houses  of  ino  Flat-heads, 473 

Ciiaptkr  VI.  The  Shoshonees,  or  Snake  Indians — The  Shoshokora,  or  Root-<liggers— 
Extent  of  Country  occupied  by  the  Stiakes- The  Cainanches:  Tlnnr  Horsenninshii), 
Mode  of  Life,  Dwellings,  &.C.— The  Pawnee  Picta- The  Nabajos  and  Moques,  477 


contp:nts.  9 


SOUTH     A  M  K  \l  I  C  A . 


tr:bf-:s  of  TiiE  v/kst  indies. 

AMTl    THK     KOUTHi'IiM    r  HOT  I  ;;i' h;,S    OF    SO'.TH    A'.^V'UrK  Pi      K 

OiuptkrI.  Itiiliiinn  (lisl  seen  by  C'i)lumbus — I.iitidiri!;  at  (iiiiiimliiiiii — Nalivcs  nt" 
(Jiibii — Embn.isy  tci  Ibe  (iiaiul  Kabul — l)j«c(ivciy  nl'  llnjti.  iind  Inliii'iiiirs,.  a  ah 
Ibp  Niitivt'H — (;uai'iina!.'iiri — Wreck  of  Ibt;  .\(lniiriil'!<  V'c-^r-fl— Ilciiii«ly  and  lln^tpi- 
talily  of  the  Nalivi!  Iiibabilaiils— Tnub^  lor  (lold — lliiildiiiK  of  Ibe  I'orlicss  of  l<a 
Niividad— Dc]iartiirc  of  llic  Nina — Tlie  (Jiu'iiayaiia — l)i-ordcrs  and  I)i'?iinn'tioii  of 
tin"  (larriwiii  at  I,a  Navidad— I'ort  of  t^t.  Thomas, 4ri7 

CiitPTER  II.  Indians  of  Jamaica— Crtiise  aloniLflhc  SoutlK^ri!  Coast  ol  (,'iilia— SpiM'iMi 
of  an  Indian  Connscllcr — Dillicidlics  at  tbc  I'orlnsn  of  Si.  Thomas— ll.s  Sii  :ro  by 
Caonabo— J;tr<irl8  of  Coliiinl)Us  to  n'.'toro  Order— (Jreat  Uisini;  of  the?  Indians  of 
llispaniola — Their  Defeat — TriOiile  Imjiosed  —  \'isit  of  Itarlholoinew  to  Xaraiinay — 
I'lirlber  Insiirrection  in  Ibe  Vei^a — lioliadill.H  as  Viceroy — Crnellies  practiced  on  the 
Indiiin.s — Las  Ca-siis— Incidents  rehited  by  Turchas — Administration  ol  Ovando — 
Kxpedilion  against  Xarai;uay — Reduction  of  Iliu'ney, 495 

ChaI'TICK  III.  The  Caribs— Their  Islaral.s  First  Visited  by  Cohimtjiis— Oij^'in  and 
Location  of  the  Race — Tokens  of  Cannib.-ilisin  seen  by  the  Spaniards— Crui-e  ainniit; 
tlie  Islands — Uemeanor  of  Prisoners  taken — KeUirn  to  llispaiiiola — Destruction  of 
the  K(jrtress  at  lb,-it  Islaiiil— Capture  of  Caonalio:  llis  Death- I'.xpulsiou  of  tln^  Nii- 
tives  from  the  Canbbee  Islands, .'jOO 

CiiAi'TKR  IV.  Inditins  of  (iuiana  and  Venezuela— Ciassillcalion— The  .\rawaks— 
FhsI  seen  by  Columbus — Lntry  into  the  (iiilf  of  F'.iria — llospitalily  of  the  Natives 
— Ualeii;h's  Visit  to  till!  •  Irinoco— liarly  Wars  of  the  .Vrawaks — Victory  over  llu! 
Caribs — .Maroon  Neijroes — Present  Condition  of  llie  .Arawaks- Other  Tribes  of  the 
Iiilerior — General  Description, 51"i 

TriE    ABORIGINES     OF    PERU. 

CuAPTKR  I.  Physical  Peculiarities  of  the  Qiiicbuas,  Ayrnaras,  Atacamas,  anil  Cliaii- 
Kos— Natiiri!  of  the  Country— Peruvian  Works  of  Art,  &.C.  — I'irst  Humors  of  the 
Wealth  of  the  Country  —  i;.vpedit;oii  of  Pascual  de  Andat,'oja  — I'rancisco  I'l/.arro: 
Mis  l-'irst  Voyage  of  Discovery — .Miiiiiijro's  Voyage- Conlract  of  Pi/.arro,  .Aliiiauro, 
and  Liiijue — The  Second  Kxjiedition— Pizarro  and  his  C'oinpanions  upon  the  Isle  of 
(Joruoiia — (Jontiuualion  of  the  Voya;,'i — Keturn  to  Panama, ..JO 

CuAl'TER  II.  .Mylholouical  Traditions — Topa  Iiica  Vu|jaiichi,  and  his  Son  lluayiia 
Capac — The  PiTUvian  Capital — Kili«ious  System— (oivernmeiit—.Axranan  Law  — 
Llamas — Public  Kecords  :  Tlie  '•  (^iiijiu'^ — .V^'iicKlluie  — .Marriaijes — Warlike^  Policy 
of  the  Incus — The  IJreat  Uoiids — Conleiitment  of  the  Natives — Division  ol  llii!  l',n\- 
pire:   lluascar  and  Alahuallpa — Conlest  for  Supremacy, .");il 

CuAi'TKR  III.  Pizarro's  Visit  to  Spain,  anil  .Application  to  Ibe  Km|ieror — Ills  I'oio' 
lirotliers—  l''uiids  procured  for  a  New  K.vpedilion  to  Peru — Ves.sels  ai,'ain  tilled  out 
at  Panama  -Landim;  of  the  Spaniards  upon  the  Peruvian  Coast — Plunder  at  ( 'oai|iiu 
— The  March  towards  Tuinbez — Ualtles  on  the  Isle  of  Puna — Tuinbez  Deserteil — 
Settlement  of  San  Miguel — .March  into  the  Interior — Passugu  of  tlie  Andes — .Mes- 
sages from  ,\tahuallpa — Lnlry  into  Caxainaica, 'M 

CuAPTKR  IV,  I'irst  Interview  with  the  liica — Plana  for  Ills  Capture — Knlryof.Ata- 
bualipa  into  Caxainaica — .Add, ess  of  the  t'liaplain — .Attack  by  the  Spaniards' 
Fearlul  .Massacre  of  the  Natives,  and  Seizure  of  the  Inca— Prisoners  and  Plunder 
ohtuined — Tlio   Promised   Kansoin— Hernando   Pizarro's  Visit  to  Pacliacumaca— 


1 


,,  u 


iH 


I  ..■ 


f 


^t 


10 


CONTENTS. 


PAOH 

Oiullctichinm — MiwscpRcrs  sent  tii  Cii/.co — IintiioiiKU  Trciisuro  cdUuctod  ul  Caxu- 

iniilfii— Trial  and  Miirdrr  i)f  Alaliiiiill|iii, 551 

CUAI'TIH  V.  March  lownrds  Cii/.cii — DpiHi.iilloii  of  lli«  NalivcH— I>i  iitli  of  Toimrta, 
and  .Murder  of  I'liallcucliiina— Manco  tapac— Kiilry  into  the  (  .vpilnl — Hooly  oh- 
laiiicd— Kw-apo  of  Maiu'o,  and  (icncral  InMiirrcclion— Sicnti  of  (.'uzco — Kt'V(!rH('S  of 
till'  Spaniards— Civd  Wars— I'lirtlifr  lloKlilili.'M  of  Manco  Capac— Crurl  Trcaliiu'til 
of  lilt'  XativcH— Dcalli  of  Maiico  Capac— llcfonns  vindcr  Pt'dro  do  la  (■■a^.:a — Tiijjac 
Amaru — InHiirrcctioii  of  1781 — Prusi^nt  Condiliou  of  llie  IVruviaii  Indianw,      .        .  503 

THE    AllAUCANIAK     RACK 
CuAPTKR  I.    Tlit'ir  Location,  Appcaraiic*!,  4.C.— Purclias'  Description  of  Chili — Divi- 
sion of  the  Tribes — IVriiviuii  Conciuesis — Agricidtnre,  Arts,  tc,  among  the  Natives 

—  AIniaKrti'.-i  Invasion — Kxpeililion  of  Pedro  de  VaMivia— Fonndini;  of  ft.  .laijo^ 
HutlleH  with  tliM  Mapocliiniaiis— Destruction  of  t^panish  Miners — Poace  with  the 
ProinaiK  i.tns, 574 

CiiAPi'KR  II.  The  Araucanians  Proiier— CliaracliT  and  Habits  of  the  Tribe — Houses 
and  Dress— l^eclional  Divisions  and  Covernmenl — System  of  Wurl'nre — Courage 
and  Military  Skill — Kelii;ious  Helief  and  Sujierstitions— Patriotism  and  Public 
Spirit  of  the  Natives — Molina's  Kiilouiuni,  . 579 

CiiAiTKii  III.  Army  sent  to  Oppose  thu  Progress  of  the  Spaniards— Kalllt!  on  the 
Adalien — l.inci>yan's  Campaign — Valdivia's  Miircli  Southward — Foundation  of  Val- 
divia,  and  Kstablishmenl  of  Korts  in  the  .\raucanian  Territory — The  Natives  roused 
by  Colocolo — Caupolicaii  nuide  Tcupii — His  Successes — (!real  Victory  over  the 
S|)iiniards— Death  of  Valdiviu — Invasion  of  .Vrauco  by  Villagran — His  Defeat — 
Di'-<lruclion  of  Conception— I, aiilaro's  I'atal  Kxpedition  Aijainst  Sanliago,  .        .      585 

CiiAPTKa  IV,  Don  (iarcia  dc  Mendoza;  His  Kstablishment  at  duiriipiina — Fori  of 
Mount  Pinto  attacked  by  Caupolicaii— Don  (iarcia's  Invasion  of  Arauco;  His 
(Iruellies — Expedition  to  Chiloe — Artful  Management  of  the  Cunches — Seizure  and 
Cruel  death  of  Caupolican — Subsequent  Successes  of  tho  Spaniards— Kelreal  4if  the 
Natives  to  the  Marshes  of  I.uinaco — Indian  Victory  at  Mount  Mariguonu — Ueneral 
Summary  of  Succeeding  Hostilities, ."594 

Chaptkr  V.  Viceroyally  of  Martin  Loyola — Pnillamachu — Renewal  of  the  War — 
Loyola  Slain— Ceneral  Insurrection  of  the  Natives— The  Spaniards  Driven  from  tho 
Ct)untry  South  of  the  Ilio-Iiio — llloody  Campaigns  under  several  successive  Toquis 
— Peace  of  1040— Ten  Years'  War — Subsequent  Treaties  and  Hostilities — Present 
Position  of  the  Araucaninns, 60S 

INDIAN    TRIBES    OF    BRAZIL. 

CiiAPTKR  I.  Physical  Characteristics— Pi nzon's  Discoveries— Landing  of  Pedro  Al- 
varez Cabral  upon  the  Rraziliait  Coast — Expedition  under  Vespuciiis — Caimibalisin 
— Colonization  of  the  Country,  and  Wars  wi'h  the  Natives— F'alo  of  Juan  do  Soils, 
Qt  the  Kslu;iry  of  La  Plata — Settlement  of  HahiadeTodos  Santos  by  Dingo  Alvarez 

—  The  Jesuits— Particulars  of  the  Cannibal  Propensities  of  the  Natives— The  Bolo- 
cudos,       .        •         • 600 

Ciiaptkr  IL  Success  of  the  Portuguese  Against  tho  Natives— Their  Contests  with 
Seitli'rs  from  other  Countries  of  Europe  —English  CoUuiy  at  Paraiba — Expulsion  of 
(iiiaraiii  Tribes  from  their  Country  on  La  Plata — Division  of  Drazilian  Nations — 
Daily  Routino  uf  Indian  Life  in  the  Forests— Reflections, 61> 

THE  PAMPAS    INDIANS 
Their  Horsemanship — Their  Mode  of  Life— Sir  Francis  Head's  Description  of  tht 
Race — Female  Captives  among  tho  Indians— Trading  Visits  to  European  SetU»^ 


ments 
Europi 


Early  Ev 
of  the 
liihahil 
Scanliiii 
ried   Ic 
Island 
Expedi 


Of  the  t.'n 


or  Intaresl 


CONTENTS. 


11 


P4'l  k 

ni('iil«—Cliisf<i(lcati(in  of  TiiboH— Change  in  their  Condition  by  the  Intro<luclion  of 
Europuan  Domestic  AiiirnalH, • Riil 

TIIK  PATAQOiriANS. 
Early  Kxiii^iicnilcd  Reports  concerninc  them— Uiiro  lo  which  they  belontf— Nature 
of  the  Country— TiMiii  del  Fuexo— (ienernl  Deacriplioii  and  Clii.Hsiflciitiori  of  the 
Itdiuhituiils— Ciiptiiiii  Fit/roy's  Niirriitive-  I'liysiciil  Conformntion  of  the  NiiliveH— 
Sciiiiliiiess  of  their  (-'lolhing— Their  Hiit«,  Ui'soince^t  for  Food,  etc.— FueRinns  car- 
ried to  I'.nulniKl  by  Fitzroy— Attempt  at  the  Introduction  of  Agriculttire  on  the 
iMlnnd  — I'eeheruis  described  in  Wilkes'  NiirriUive  of  the  United  Stutes'  Exj)lurin({ 
Expedition, • 6'.".t 


INDIAN    POPULATION 
Of  the  United  Stated  and  Territories, 

IMPORTANT    ERAS    AND    DATES 
Of  InterestinR  Events  in  Indian  History, 


.  48,'i 


can 


■Tnr-'f"  m  i-T-   -■   ' •» 


if 


•  nU 


if 


^ 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


I  \ 


srnjEfT.  PAna;, 

rRONTisriECK  — Inti'ivicw  l)i'lw('('ii  Ciirtc?,  mid   Mdiilc/.iimn, ' 

Indiiiii   Hiiw  iiiiil   AiiiiWH,  li.irpimli,  lt:l^k(•t,  I'oU  Itowl,  &.C  , -■! 

Iiiiliaii  TniiiJiliiiwk,  Kcillc,  S|MJ(iii,  Pi|M'r',  &.f  , "•"' 

Poitniil  of  Miiiilc/.iiiim,  ill  hi!*  MuKiiillci'iil   Kcu'iil  Uren^, ■''•♦ 

Ili'ni;Lii(ln  Colic '7.,  IVocii  111!  Oiij^iniil  Poitniit  l)y  Tilinii, ■'•'i 

r.XfCiilioii  of  an  1 1  III  inn  (.'iipllvf, '■'• 

Pol  trait  (if  ( )sc>M.lii,  till-  Ci'l.bnitcil  Floridn  Cliicf, '-"J 

PoriniiUol  Cii|itiiiii  John  Sinilli.  Iho  Pio'ictT  of  Virf^iniii, '•'- 

Pocilioiilns  liilcipimim;  for  the  l.ilo  of  Cii|itiiiii  John  Siiiilh, l''l 

Interview  of  SiimoHct  with  the  Pili^riina, '-''"J 

Tisiiniintum,  or  f^iHiiuito,  the  (;uide  mid  liitiTprcler  of  tin)  t'oIoiii!'lN 2111 

Tiic  Colonists  iroiiiK  to  Cliiiic'h  iirined,  dnriiii?  tliu  Emly  Indiiui  Waif, •■ '•' 

Kinir  Philip,  tlio  Aborininiil    ii'i'o  of  Mount  Mope, '->'■' 

Portrait  of  (Japtiiin  Iltiijaiiiiii  Church, '-'"■' 

SiMiccH   Lake, ->^f> 

Jiwcpli  Uraiit,  (TuAYENDANKOKA,)  of  VVyoinin(?  Notoriety, -'J^ 

Ued  Jackcl,  llie  Miisttrly  Orator  and  Chief  of  the  Suiiecas, 3:H 

HallPlayintr,  as  practiced  hy  the  U'e.iterii  Tribes, '1-1^ 

I'ortrait  of  William  Penii,  the  Founder  of  Peiiusjlvania, 'M\) 

Colonel  (o'orm^  Washington,  as  Aid-de-Cainp  to  Cenerul  Itraddock, '■^■<~ 

Uorder  Hiicoiinler,  a  Scene  from  Early  Western  Life, HCiO 

Trapping  the  Hear, Il'i  I 

(Jetieral  llarriaon,  sunounded  with  appropriate  National  Eiublcins, :i'W 

Ti  cnmsch,  the  lenowned  Chief  of  the  Western  Tribes, 'M'<^ 

The  Eagle,  a  Type  of  Swiftness,  Strength,  and  Superiority, 'M- 

Indiaii  Sellleinent,  representing  their  Costumes.  Tents,  &.C., 'M'-^ 

Ceiieial  Jackson  on  his  favorite  White  Charger, 411!) 

Indians  Watching  for  Salmon 'i:i;t 

Indians  making  their  OITerings  to  the  Dead 441 

Indian  Wai-Dance,  as  practised  among  the  Maiidans, 448 

Indian  r.ncaiiiiuneiil  West  of  the  Mississippi, 4(i.> 

The  Hisoii,  generally  called  the  Hiiflalo 47i2 

The  (Jrizzly  Hear,  abounding  in  the  Norlh-weU  Territory 4H0 

RiifTalo  Chase,  peculiar  to  the  Western  Indians, 4,>'0 

■  Portrait  of  (  hrislopher  Columbus, 4."9 

Maqiiarri  Umice,  in  the   Lower  District  of  Pomerooii, ^i\~ 

All  Indian  Sorcerer  perforining  his  Ceremonies  over  the  Sick, ."ii:) 

Portrait  of  Francisco  Pi/.arro, •'>-0 

The  Inca  Atahualpa  before  Pizarro, .">(il 

Till'  Passage  of  the  Cordilleras, S77 


,;| 


OUIGI.N 


It  \vc 
tion  of 
ex})]aiii 
national 

Even 
the  argu 
able  sou 
heiiii.'^pli 
a  vol  urn  I 
to  tlie  di 
reader  tc 
liiin,  by 
the  disci 

The  w 
of  Amer 
used  bv 
the  v/ild 
us  little 


INDIAN     RACES     OF     A  I\I  E  R  I  C  A . 


GENERAL    CHARACTERISTICS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

OUKilN    OF    THR    NOKTII    AMKKICAN    IMJIANS SO.MR    OF    TliElR 

GENERAL    CUSTOMS    AND    I'ECULI  A  KITIES. 

Ol'r)  rrsp  ipuXXuv  /svs^,  rorr^os  xai  civdpwv. 

"Like  leaves  on  trees  the  race  of  man  is  found, 
Now  green  in  youth,  now  withering  on  the  ground; 
Anotlier  race  tlie  folhnviiig  spring  supplies.'" — fjiaj. 

It  were  far  easier  to  foretell  the  period  when  the  extinc- 
tion of  the  Indian  races  must  be  eonsinnniated,  and  to 
explain  the  causes  that  must  sooner  or  later  terminate  their 
national  existence,  than  to  trace  back  their  early  history. 

Even  a  succinct  account  of  the  various  theories,  with 
the  arguments  upon  which  they  are  based,  as  to  the  prob- 
able sources  whence  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  AVesteru 
hemisphere  derived  their  origin,  wouhl  furnish  inatter  for 
a  volume:  we  shall  therefore  do  little  more  than  allude 
to  the  dilferent  hypotheses  upon  the  subject,  leaving  the 
reader  to  follow  up  the  inquiry,  if  his  inclination  so  move 
him,  by  the  examination  of  works  especially  devoted  to 
the  discussion  of  this  vexed  question. 

The  want  of  a  written  language  among  the  aborigines 
<if  America;  the  blindness  of  the  system  of  hieroglyphics 
used  by  the  more  advanced  nations  of  the  coTitinent;  and 
the  v/ild  discrepancies  in  their  fmciful  oral  traditions  leave 
us  little  hope  of  satisfactorily  elucidating  the  mystery  by 


II 


ei    ' 


II 


I 


d* 


y^jikjd 


14 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


any  direct  information  obtained  from  the  people  them 
Pelves.    Analogies  in  })liysieal  conformaticni,  customs,  arclii- 
tcctnre,  language,  and  religion,  must  form  our  j)riiK'ipal  clue 
in  deciding  tlic  question  of  their  origin. 

That  America  was  hrst  peopled  by  wanderers  from  the 
Old  World  seems  to  be  a  conclusion  to  which  most  of  those 
who  ih'ive  treated  on  the  subject  have  arrived.  Exclusive 
of  the  suj)])Osed  necessity  for  maintaining  the  truth  of  Scri])- 
tural  history  by  deducing  all  the  races  of  the  globe  fnjm  a 
common  ancestry,  abundant  facilities  for  an  intentional  or 
casual  migration  have  been  pointed  out  by  geographers. 

The  numberless  isles  of  the  Pacific  offer  ready  resting- 
places  for  adventurous  or  bewildered  navigators,  and  might 
have  been  peopled  successively  by  wanderers  from  South- 
eastern Asia.  Some  of  the  natives  of  that  portion  of  tlie 
Eastern  continent  possess  a  skill  in  nautical  affairs  which 
would  abundantly  qualify  them  for  voyages  as  hazardous 
as  any  to  which  they  would  be  exposed  in  crossing  the 
Pacific  from  island  to  island  in  their  swift  proas,  '^fhe 
near  aj)proach  of  the  two  grand  divisions  of  the  globe  at 
Behring's  Straits  presents  still  greater  facilities  for  a  ]i;iss- 
age  from  one  to  the  other,  when  the  waters  are  closed  by 
ice,  during  the  severe  Northern  winter,  or  when  they  lie 
open,  affording  a  free  passage  for  canoes. 

'^^riiat  'le  North-eastern  portions  of  America  were  visited 
and  probably  peojiled,  at  a  very  early  date,  by  adventurers 
from  the  North  of  Eui'ope  seems  to  be  fully  established. 
Many  wild  and  improbable  legends  indeed  exist,  touching 
these  early  voyages,  and  we  can  sympathise  with  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  old  historian  of  Virginian  colonization 
dismisses  the  subject:  "For  the  stories  of  Arthur,  ^Falgo, 
and  Brandon,  that  say  a  thousand  yearcs  agoe  they  were 
In  the  North  of  America,  or  the  PVj'cr  of  Linn,  that  by 
his  black  Art  went  to  the  North  Pole  in  the  yeare  loGO. 
In  that  T  know  them  not.     Let  this  suffice." 


I 


Mor 
evidei 

neighl 
and  in 
not  itii 

two  CO 

irrcnce 
ti'ibes  (j| 
aii('csti-_ 
when  \ 
desolate 
seas  of 
A'agi 
found  ii 

of  J'hlt( 

fables  h 

proof  of 

general  b 

Some 

that  we  i 

tlie  red  i 

blanees,  « 

bi'cw  wo 

Others 

a  compar 

icans,  ela 

complexi 

^[oorish 

Islands,  c 

to  have  s 

Ilowev 

nations  o] 

language 

and  whic 

nations  h; 


I  ! 


H 


GENERAL  CUARACTEKISTICS. 


15 


Modern  investigation  has  brouglit  to  light  abundant 
evidence  of  visits  by  the  Nortlunen  to  (ireenland  and  the 
neighboring  American  coast,  at  the  close  of  the  It'iith 
and  in  tlie  beginning  of  the  eleventh  centuries,  and  it  is 
not  improbable  that  intercourse  had  subsisted  between  the 
two  countries  at  a  much  earlier  period,  ^i'lie  marked  dif- 
ference between  the  Esquimaux  Indijuis  and  all  either 
tribes  of  tiie  Western  continent  points  phiinly  to  a  sc])arate 
ancestry.  ^Vc  shall  speak  more  at  large  upon  this  subject 
when  we  come  to  treat  of  tlic  natives  of  that  vast  and 
desolate  region  lying  between  the  Canadas  and  the  froiicu 
seas  of  the  North. 

A'iigue  accounts  of  islands  or  continents  at  the  West  are 
found  in  the  wc^rks  of  many  early  writers.  The  Atlantis 
of  I'lato,  the  lles])crides,  and  a  host  of  other  une(  rtuin 
fables  have  been  tortured  by  ingenious  antiqua-'es  into 
})roof  of  more  extensive  geographical  knowledge  than  is 
generally  attributed  to  the  ancients. 

Some  theorists  have  indefatigably  followed  up  the  idea 
that  we  arc  to  search  for  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel  among 
the  red  men  of  America,  and  have  found  or  fancied  resem- 
blances, otherwise  unaccountable,  between  Indian  and  He- 
brew words,  ceremonies,  and  superstitions. 

Others  have  exhibited  equal  ingenuity  in  canying  out 
a  comparison  between  the  Moors  of  Afi'ica  and  the  Amer- 
icans, claiming  to  establish,  a  near  aflfinity  in  character  and 
complexion  between  the  two  races.  They  suppose  the 
Moorish  immigrants  to  have  arrived  at  the  West  India 
Islands,  or  the  Eastern  coast  of  Srutli  America,  and  thence 
to  have  spread  over  the  whole  continent. 

However  variant,  in  some  particulars,  the  different 
nations  of  America  may  appear,  there  are  peculiarities  of 
language  Avhich  are  noticeable  throughout  the  continent, 
and  which  ^vou^d  seem  to  prove  that  neither  of  these 
nations  has  subsisted  in  an  cntirelv  isolated  condition. 


;» 


4='^! 


:  -i  II 


mi 


I  ,  i' 


%^Mjd 


10 


INIdAN    HACKS   OF   AMllKICA. 


Accordin^f  to  llutnhoMt;  "In  Aiiici'icn,  from  the  conn 
try  of  the  Jvstiuiiuaux  to  tlio  bunks  of  the  Drhioko,  und 
again,  i'rom  these  torrid  banks  to  the  frozen  climate  of  the 
Straits  of  Ma^elhm,  inotlier  tongncs,  entirely  dillei-cnt  with 
regard  to  tlujir  roots,  havi',  if  \\c,  niay  use  the  exjn-ession, 
the  same  jtliysiognorny.  Striking  analogies  of  gi-amniat- 
ieal  construeticju  have  been  recognised,  not  only  iu  the 
more  i)erreet  languages- — as  that  of  the  Ineas,  the  Aymara, 
the  Ciuanini,  the  Mexican,  and  the  Cora,  but  also  in  lan- 
guages exti'cniely  rmle.  Idioms,  the  roots  of  which  do 
not  resemble  each  other  more  than  the  roots  of  the  Sela- 
vonian  and  IViscayan,  have  resend)lanccs  of  internal  me- 
clianism  similar  to  those  which  ai'e  iound  in  the  Sanscrit, 
the  Persian,  tlu^  (iivck,  and  the  (jlerman  lanLTUatxcs," 

Of  the  |>riniaiy  roots  of  the  dillcrent  Indian  dialects, 
it  is  said  that  thei(!  are  four  more  prominent  than  the  rest, 
and  which  can  l)e  ti'aced  over  nearly  the  whole  continent, 
"^^rhese  ai-e  the  Karalit  or  Es(|uimaux,  the  Iroquois,  tiie 
]jcuni  J>en;i}>(^,  and  that  of  the  Cherokecs,  Choctaws,  and 
other  tribes  (jf  the  South. 

'^^riie  great  body  of  the  American  aborigines,  notwith- 
standing the  country  over  which  they  an;  distributed,  have 
many  features  of  ])hysical  conformation  in  common.  The 
exceptions  to  this  general  truth,  exhibited  principally  in 
the  persons  of  the  Esquimaux,  and  in  certain  white  tribes 
at  the  West,  deserve  a  separate  consideration:  at  ])resent, 
our  remarks  will  be  confined  to  the  red  men,  and  particu- 
larly to  those  of  the  present  United  States  and  teri-itoi'ies. 

The  ajypellation  universally  bestowed  upon  this  })eoi)le  is 
in  itself  a  strange  misnomer,  and  would  hardly  have  obtain- 
ed so  generally,  had  not  the  (UTor  in  which  it  originated 
been  one  which  early  voyagers  were  slow  to  acknowledge. 

The  Americans  have,  indeed,  usurped  the  name  of  those 
for  whom  lhi>y  wei-e  so  long  mistaken,  and  whom  we  are 
now  reduced  to  distuinguish  by  the  title  of  East  Indians. 


The 
!   can  bi' 

of  illlVr 

rrli'i'rc( 

d'  cillii 

li;iS  bee 

U'.rr  licii 

by  pivii 

and  slcii 

'I'hcir  lii 

than  str( 

of  I'Jiroj 

The  n 

the  ri'ddi 

of  tlie  cli 

^I'liis  is  n 

has  not  i 

— less  fro 

manner  i 

dark.     'l'| 

and  a  gre; 

of  tliein   I 

and  jiftiac 

It  was 

radians   w 

fVom  the  a 

of  eradicat 

uiade  of  \\ 

liaii's  as  so( 

the  whites 

the  same  u; 

^'in^  men,  t( 

bare  the  w 

or  ri(]n-(.'  lilo 

cu{)ine  qui] 


(IKNKIt.M,   (MIAIIACTI'.HISTP'S. 


1 


Tht"'  ;.''■' II >'r,'il  ;ippra!';ni('('  of  ;i  Xoilli  AiiiiM'i(';iii  Imliaii 
cat!  h>'  i.'.i\<'ii  ill  few  word.-;  IIm'  n'scnilplaiu'c  ln'twccii  lliusc 
of  ililli'i'i'iit  trilx's  willi  til''  cxccptidiis  ti)  \\lii''li  \\t'  lias'O 
rfr.'ii'cil  lii'iii"'  dill  as  close  iis  lictwrcii  (JilVd-riit  iiaticiis 
of  ciiliiT  (if  ill''  ;;;r('at  ('aiiiilics  into  wiiii'li  tlic  liuiiiaii  r:ir(5 
has  Ix'cii  ailiil  rarily  divided.  'I'liey  ai'e  aliout  nf  tlir  avef- 
a'.re  liri-jlit  wliieli  iiiaii  jiltiiiiis  when  his  form  is  not  ei-aniiinl 
1)V  lU'rniatiife  or  excessive  lalnir,  hut  their  ei'ci'l  |Histiire 
ami  slender  liLoire  <^\\'v.  th-  ni  the  ajipearanee  of  a  tall  race. 
I'lieir  Iiinl)sar(Mvell  formed,  hut  e!dculaf<'d  rather  for  ability 
than  slrenL-'th,  in  which  t.liey  rarely  diual  the  more  viL'^oi-oiis 
of  I'lnropeiin  nations.     They  generally  have  small  H^el. 

The  most  distinguishiriL:^  pcculiaritit^s  of  the  race  are, 
the  rc'ldi-h  or  (;o[>[ier  colour  of  the  skiu;  the  |ii'()iiiini'iiee 
of  the  eheek-lione;  and  the  color  and  ([Ualitv  of  the  hair. 
This  is  not  absolutely  strai;.dit,  Imt  somewhat  wa\'\-,  and 
lias  Jiot  ina])tly  hccn  comp;ired  to  the  mane  df  the  hors(! 
— l(^ss  from  its  coarseness  than  from  its  ;„'lossv  hue  and  tla; 
manner  in  whicli  it  lian,L!S.  Their  eyes  ai'(^  univia-^ally 
dark.  The  women  arc  rather  shoif,  with  hroader  faees, 
and  a  ^u'reater  tendency  to  obesity  than  the  men,  hut  many 
of  them  ])ossess  a  svmm''trical  lli.mre,  with  an  a_i!'reeal)K; 
and  atti active  countenance. 

It  was  form(M-]y  quit(!  a  g(moral  impression  tliat  tli;'' 
Indians  wen;  destitute  of  Lcards.  ^i'his  error  resulted 
from  the  almost  universal  custom  ])rcvalent  amoii'j  ihem 
of  (M'atlicatiii<r  wdiat  they  esteemed  a  deformit  v.  Tweezers, 
made  of  wood  oi'  muscle-shell.s,  servcil  to  pluck  out  tla^ 
liairsas  soon  as  they  apjx'.ared ;  and,  after  intercourse  with 
the  whites  commenced,  a  coil  of  spiral  wire  was  ajijilicd  to 
the  same  use.  Jt  was  esteemed  e-i'catlv  becominLT  aiuon'i 
the  men,  to  carry  this  operation  still  farthei-,  and  to  lay 
hare  tlie  wdiolc  head,  with  the  exception  of  a  topknot, 
or  ridg'c  like  the  comb  of  acock,  in  wdiich  feathers  oi'  ])or- 
cupine  quills  were  fantastically  interwoven. 


Jj 


'M 


:i!i 


'M 

1 


'I 


t'l 


ri 


^ 


S 


iiW' 


'n 


K 


l^0M 


13 


INDIAN    1:A('K.-:   ok   AMKI{ICA. 


Of  llic  hideous  (•iistoiii  (if  llattciiiii;.';  the  hi-jnl,  ami  tho 
incatiH  by  which  il  \v;is  :i('fi»iii|)hsh(Ml,  we  sh'ill  speak 
when  (U;S('ril)iii;^  lin-  Irilies  amoiiL,'  whom  it  was  praetiseil. 

No  nations  on  the  Ivistern  eout  incut  ai'iii'oaeh  so  neaih'  t(j 
tlio  American  Indians,  in  liodily  eoulniiuatiou,  as  do  eeitain 
tril)es  of  Tailans.  A  similarity  in  liaMts  of  hie,  in  dress, 
festivals,  and  gamers,  is  also  oliservaMe  lietwceii  thi;  two 
luitions.  This,  cond)ined  with  the  proximity  of  tlieir  eoun- 
tries,  and  the  ease  with  whieli  a  iiassa;^;e  eould  he  elfe(;ted, 
would  seem  toalford  a  rational  pi'esinnjitii)n  as  to  the  direct 
origin  of  no  small  ])ortion  of  tlu,-  reil  trihesof  Noi'th  Amer- 
ica. Who  can  uuth'rtake  to  decide,  howevt  r,  as  to  what 
almixturo  of  I'accs  has  hei'e  taken  jilace,  or  how  (.)ften 
fresh  arrivals,  from  dillereut  poUious  of  I'lastern  Asia, 
have  given  rise  to  new  colonies,  or  deslroyeil  l>y  amal- 
gamation, the  distinctive  charaetei'isties  of  the  cai'lier  ])eo- 
ph;?  Above  all,  can  W(^  account  for  the  woiKh-iful  I'emaius 
of  anti({uity  described  in  another  cha])ter,  ]>y  referring 
th(nn  to  the  same  races  as  were  found  inhabiting  these 
wihls  wduMi  the  white  man  first  ventured  to  explore  them? 

Tiie  diniculty  of  the  subject  is  sulficiently  manifest  frotn 
the  contradictory  concbiftions  drawn  bv  hiborious  1)ut  dog- 
matic anti(piaries;  and  still  more  by  the  doubt  and  uncer- 
tainty in  which  mon3  candid  but  cpially  diligent  laborers 
in  the  same  field  have  confessed  their  researches  to  have 
resulted. 

There  have  not  been  wanting  those  who  liavo  main- 
tained tlie  theoi'V  that  the  Jndians  were  indigenous  to 
America.  Scjme  v.  ho  have  adopted  this  idea  consider  that 
it  involves  the  doctrine  of  a  separate  creation,  while  others, 
that  they  might  not  discard  the  ordinarily  received  o])in- 
ion  that  all  mankind  have  s])rungfrom  a  single  j)air,  j^lace 
the  seat  of  })aradise  somewhere  upon  the  Western  Con- 
tinent, anil  consider  the  Eastern  nations  as  descendants  of 
omi'irants  from  America. 


A  k 
IndiatiH 
the  j)er 
quaint  ( 
events  a 
and  bef( 
directnc; 

Sucji 

upon  tin 

gcncralit 

historiea' 

which  W( 

Jn  this 

speak  of 

ag(^,  whic 

A\'estern 

distinctio 

submitted 

chronisnis 

^Ve  no 

iimate  di" 


OKXKHAL  CirAKACTKltlSTICS. 


10 


TTowovfT  intorosti!i<^  tlicHc  speculations  may  prove  to 
tli('  aiitiiiuiiry,  tlicy  must  a[)p('ar  siMi]ily  wcarisojuc;  to  the 
ri'adcf  who  is  not  williu;^'  to  j.mv('  tlic  sulijcct  u  lull  invcs- 
lii,Mtiou.  'I'Ik'  two  li(.Miiis[tlu'ivs  rctnaiiu'd  sundoivd  f<jr  so 
Ion;;  a  pciind,  that  lhi>  history  of  their  fonnor  connoetion  hy 
intercourse  of  their  respective  iiihaMtants  is  now  reduced 
to  httli'  more  than  speculation;  and  we  will  j)ass  to  mat- 
ters of  which  we  can  speak  with  ceiluinty,  and  which 
a])poal  more  closely  to  our  sympathies,  jind  uttnict  our 
attention  with  more  lively  interest  than  such  groping  amid 
the  dim  relics  of  antitpiity. 


A  knowledge  of  the  ha])its  and  peculiarities  of  the 
Indians  can  he  acquired  in  the  most  pleasing  manner  by 
the  perusal  of  their  history,  interspersed  as  it  is  witii  the 
quaint  descriptions  of  old  chroniclers,  who  wrote  wlum  the 
events  and  scenes  were  vividly  iin))resscd  upon  their  minds, 
and  heforc  modern  refinemcuits  liad  done  away  with  that 
directness  of  cx})ression  which    marks    their    narratives. 

Such  details  make,  moreover,  a  far  stronger  impression 
upon  tiic  m(unory  than  can  l)c  eflL-eted  by  a  series  of  dry 
generalities.  We  shall  therefore  refer  the  reader  to  the 
historical  portion  of  this  work  for  most  of  the  information 
which  we  shall  altiimpt  to  convey. 

In  this,  atid  in  the  ensuing  chapter,  we  may  frequently 
speak  of  usages  and  characjtcristics,  as  belonging  to  a  j)ast 
age,  which  are  still  to  be  observed  among  the  more  remote 
AVestern  tribes.  The  dilTiculty  of  always  drawing  the 
distinction  in  a  series  of  such  general  remarks  as  are  hero 
submitted,  must  form  our  excuse  for  such  seeming  ana- 
chronisms. 

We  notice  in  the  Indian  a  remarkable  gravity  and 
innate  dignity  whicli   loads  him  to  avoid,  wit!i  the  most 


it 


i 


f 


ilt* 


:li 


A\\ 


^^^ 


20 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


scrupulous  (';i,n>,  nil  iiiv'>liint!iry  .)r  impulslvo  ox|in'ssion 
of  his  foelin^rt.  'i'liis  in  not  coiiliut'il  to  lln*  (xxusioiis 
uj)))!!  which  h(!  culls  forth  his  jxnvcrs  of  ciiduniiicc  in  suf- 
fering tlu!  most  cruel  tornuuits  with  apparent  insonsil/ilily 
or  oven  with  exultiition,  but  enters  into  all  the;  acts  of  his 
daily  life.  Ho  betrays  no  unsin-inly  curiosity  or  impa- 
tience under  circumstances  that  would  naturally  exciti; 
both  in  the  highest  degree.  Has  ho  been  long  absent 
iVorn  homo  on  a  w'ar-j)ath,  or  on  a  visit  to  cities  of  the 
whites;  has  ho  learned  some  grt-at  and  threatening  dan- 
ger, or  h;us  tho  intelligenco  reached  him  of  the  death  of 
those  whom  ho  most  values;  his  conduct  and  method  of 
communicating  his  adventures  or  his  information,  an; 
gcwerncil  by  tho  same  deliberation  and  immobility. 

l{(!turning  half  famished  from  an  unsuccessful  hunt,  he 
enters  his  wigwam,  and  sits  down  uiupiestioncd,  shinving 
no  symjttom  of  imi)atiencc  for  food.  His  wift;  j)repares 
his  refreshment,  and  alter  smoking  his  pipe,  and  satisfying 
his  hunger,  ho  volunteers  an  account  ol'  his  experience. 
Catlin  gives  a  striking  description  of  tho  meeting  between 
a  chief  named  Wi-jun-jon,  who  had  JiLst  returned  from  an 
embassy  to  Washington,  and  his  family.  He  landed  from 
tho  steamer  at  his  home  in  the  far  West,  "with  a  com- 
plete suit  C7i  mililaire,  a  colonel's  uniform  of  bhu-,  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  president  (;f  the  United  States,  with 
a  beaver  hat  and  feath(>r,  with  ej)auletti'S  of  gold — with 
sash  and  belt,  and  broadsword;  with  high-heeled  boots — 
with  a  keg  of  wdiiskey  under  his  arm,  and  a  blue  und)rella 
in  his  hand.  In  this  i)light  and  metanuM-jjliose,  he  took 
his  position  on  the  bank  amongst  his  friends — his  wife 
and  other  relations;  not  one  of  whom  exhibited,  for  an 
half  hour  or  more,  the  least  symptoms  of  recognition, 
although  they  knew  well  who  wius  beA)ro  them."  'Y\\q 
conduct  of  the  chief  was  of  the  same  character,  but,  half 
an  hour  afterwards,  "a  gradual,  but  cold  and  exceedingly 


fori 

wen 

dem 

/;t( 

any 

th.- 


'i'h 


"  X( 


\T\ 


(lENKltAL  i.lIAUAt'lKHISTlCS. 


lil 


formul  roc'u^^'iiltioii  bc^^Mii  to  tiiki;  placi',"  uftcr  wliidi,  all 
"vviMit  oil  as  if  lie  li:i(l  iM'Vt'r  hrcn  nltsetit.  -  'I'liis  strangt! 
(loiiK'aiior  (lues  not,  by  any  iiicaiis,  ivsult  from  i-cal  inilil- 
lI'nMK'c,  Itiit  from  tin;  siipposcil  propriety  of  .suj)pi'i's.siii<,' 
any  oulltrcak  of  oiaotion.  No  doiiht  all  the  parties  to 
the  }>v('\ic  aliovc!  (Kscriliefl,  wvvr  in  a  state  of  tlu;  ;^realest 
curiosity  and  exeitemeiil,  and  the  latnily  doiihtloss  lelt 
the  most  cxiihorant  joy  at  tlm  ivitnion;  but  custom,  or 
their  ideiis  of  i^ood  taste,  prohiliited  the  exhibition  of  a 
"scene."  Those  who  are  best  ae([Uainted  with  the  ehar- 
aetci"  of  the  Indians  a.i^reo  that  with  them  the  ties  of  fam- 
ily iitleetioii  are  exceedingly  strong  and  enduring.  The 
most  touching  descriptions  arc  givt'n  of  tin;  manner  in 
whieli  they  mourn  f  >r  the  dead,  and  of  the  tender  ami 
fiilhful  i'emend)i-ance  of  lost  relative's  that  no  icmith  i^i' 
time  seems  to  ol)literate.  CarviT  says,  "I  can  assert  thiit, 
notwithstanding  the  apparent  indilTerenec  with  which  an 
Indian  meets  his  wili' and  children  after  a  long  absence, 
an  indinerence  proceeding  rather  from  custom  than  irisen- 
sittility,  1h.'  is  not  inimindfid  of  the  claims  either  of  con- 
nubial or  parental  ttMiderness." 

The  s;nn(3  authoi"  who  had  witnessed  tlic  most  bloody 
and  SMvage  scenes  of  Indian  warfare,  and  who  was  familiar 
with  the  cruelties  and  unrelenting  spirit  of  revenge  j)eculiar 
to  tlie  race,  candidly  bears  witness  to  their  good  fpialities: 

"Xo  ])eople,"  he  says,  "can  be  more  hospitable,  kind, 
and  free.  "•'■  *  The  honor  of  their  tribe  and  the 
welfare  of  their  nation  is  tlu^  first  and  most  predominant 
emotion  of  their  hearts;  ;ind  fi'oiu  hence  proceed  in  a  great 
measure  all  their  viilues  ;ind  their  vices.  ■••■  *  ^ 
No  selfish  views  ever  influence  th(^ir  advice  or  obstruct 
their  consultations.  *  *  Thev  are  at  onc^e  guided 
by  p>assions  and  a])petites,  which  they  hold  in  common 
with  the  fiercest  beasts  that  inhabit  their  woods,  and  aro 
possessed  \)f  virtues  wdiich  do  honor  to  human  nature." 


{'■■ 


in  ;i 


il* 


I  i  I  pi 


If 


:  3. 

,1 


jia 


22 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKItK'A. 


Tlif".  IiKViniis  111'!'  naturally  tMi'iliii'ii,  liiit  Hiinl  of  sot 
P}KMM'hcs.  Tlii'lr  ofafiii'V  is  of  no  mean  (U'llcr,  ami  is  <lis- 
tiii;i'uislic(l  I'or  a  ])it!iin('ss,  a  i|naiiitiii'ss,  ainl  i  iccasioiially  a 
vein  of  <li'V  sarcasm,  wliicli  have  ii-'vcr  hfcii  surpassed. 
Wo  1kiv(>  s()e('imens  of  some  of  tlieir  orations,  upon  threat 
ocoasions,  wliicli  aro  models  of  stii'rin^;  eloi[ueiiee,  adoruoil 
■\vitli  metaphors  and  similos  vvliirli  breatlie  llie  tiau'  spii'it 
of  pootrv. 

Tlio  most  pleasiiifT  traits  in  tlio  oliai-aetor  of  tli(>se  sti-an-jo 
])eopl(>  aro  tluur  i-evoronc(>  for  a^'o,  their  all'eetion  foi'  th(Mr 
childron,  their  hi,L;h  notions  ol'  honor,  and  their  keen  sensi> 
of  justioo.  The  ,<:Toat  stie;ma  ui)()n  the  whole  race  is  their 
deliberate  and  systemalie  eruelty  in  tla^  treatment  of  cap- 
tives. It  is  liard  to  aeeount  lor  this,  hut  it  i-eally  ap])ears, 
upon  investieation,  to  1)0  rather  a  nation;d  eustxtni,  ,<jiadii- 
ally  roaohinir  a  climax,  than  to  have  arisen  fVom  any  innato 
love  of  inflictin.ir  ]Kiin.  It  is  pci-fectly  coi'tain  that,  if  the 
children  of  the  most  onlightoncjd  nation  on  earth  should  l)e 
brought  uj)  in  occasional  familiai'ity  with  setuioslike  those 
witnessed  at  the;  execution  of  a  ju'isoncr  by  the  American 
sava.si;es,  they  would  exjierienee  no  horror  at  tlic  sight. 
Wo  need  not  seek  farther  than  the  history  of  religious  ami 
political  ])crsecutions  in  Europe,  or  the  cruelties  ])ractised 
1)11  reputed  witches  in  our  ow^n  country,  to  satisfy  us  that 
the  character  of  the  Indians  will  sulfei-  little" by  compai'i- 
son  with  that  of  their  contemporaries  of  our  own  race. 

Among  some  of  those  nations  which  included  an  ex- 
tensive confederacy,  where  a  system  of  govermniMit  had 
become  settled  by  usage,  and  tlu^  authority  of  the  chief 
had  been  strengthened  by  long  submission  to  him  and  his 
prcdocoN-iurs,  an  arbitrary  monarchy  seems  to  have  pre- 
vailed; but  among  the  smaller  tribes,  the  authoritv  of  tht 
chief  was  rather  advisory  than  absolute.  There  was  gen 
erally  a  king  who  lield  hereditary  office^  and  exercis(Ml 
the  powers  of  u  civil  governor  by  virtue  of  his  descent; 


win 
redd 

tW( ) 

Bam( 
emu 

won 

A I 

einn 

and 

As  tl 

n  rem 

batioi 

tuial 

A 

tli(^  et 

the    d( 

ineidei 

the  ]iii 

Lriven  i 

U(>  is  1 

pri(>ty 

State  ( 

nceidei 

abs(Mit 

enme  f 

from  tl 

not,  an 

niiTe(>il 

^I'he  Cc 

pn>sidii 

th(>   vie 

were  hi 

and   iiii 

bv  \]\o 

and  evf 


1 
■I 


nEXEHAL   CIlAItACTKRISTICS. 


23 


wliile  to  l(';i<l  tlio  Avnrrioi--;  in  l)atll(',  tlio  l)''avost,  most 
reiloiililt'il,  and  sa'ja('i(/iis  of  llir  trilio  was  clootod.  Tlicsn 
two  cliiiT  oirici\-^  wore  iiul  niirn^ipiiMitlv  unitc^d  in  tlie 
snnic  pci'son,  wImmi  tlic  lawfnl  sachem,  fi-om  a  spii'it  of 
omiilatiiHi  >>v  Ci'Din  natural  aiU'antages,  sliowod  liiinself 
wortln'  <>r  till'  position. 

All  nia1t(M's  of  nalional  intorost  woro  discussed  at  n  sol- 
emn eou':ril,  consislinLT  of  llie  prim-ipal  nie;~  of  tl)  ^  ti'ilte, 
and  at  \vlii''!i  uT(\it  deeornni  and  formality  wer(^  e')serve(l. 
As  tlie  dcliale  proeecMlcd,  tlic  wl.oli;  conclave,  wluniever 
n  remai'lc  fi'oni  tlie  orator  s|>eal<in,<r  exeitcMl  tlieir  apjiro 
liation,  would  uive  exjiression  to  tlicir  ajijirovul  by  a  t^iit- 
tural  ejaculation. 

A  natural  insliuct  of  retributive  justice  ordained  that 
tli(>  crime  of  murder  should  l)e  punished  In'  tlu^  hand  of 
flic  decease(l  ])erson's  nearest  relative.  An  interestinfr 
incident,  conn(H't(Nl  Avitli  tliis  custom^  is  told  in  a  notic(^  of 
the  jiuhlic  lin>  of  th(>  TTou.   Pierre  A  Host,  of  TiOnisiana, 

veil  in  the  I'nitcd  States  T-aw  ^fa'^azine,  for  ^rarch,  1-^02. 


1T( 


IS  here  sai< 


1  to  liav(^  Leen  the  first  to  s 


u'jfirc 


■St  th 


le  pro- 


pri(>ty  of  intei'ference  in  these  matters  on  the  part  o?  the 
State  Courts.      Tn   a  druidcen    frav,  an   Indian  had  heen 


nccidentallv  hilled. 


The  relatives  of  th(>  d 


ei'cascii  wen 


1 


ihsent  at  the  time;   hut  thev  soon  h(\ird  of  his  (h>atl 


I,  aiu 


came  from  tli(^  Indian  territorA'  to  exact  lihnxl   for  l)loo(l 


from  the   1 


lomici 


d(\     Tie  was  advist^il  to  flee,  1 


noi 


lid 


no 


t.  and.  in  hlind  suh 


mission 


to  tlu^  law  of  tl 


\C       ''C 


1   to  deliv(U*  himself  on   a  cert, 


im    ( 


lav  t( 


^Oi- 


<li  )t. 
tl 


10 


mir 


nii'reei 

1'lie  (^»iirt  was  tluMi  sittinir,  and  ^fr.  Rost  pro] 
pri'sidimi"  judiie  to  ]-»rev(Mit  the  horrid  sacrifice,  hv  <jriv 
the  A-ictim  a  fair  trial  hv  jury,  many  memhers  of  which 
were  Known  and  r(>s]i(>ct(Ml  hv  the  relatives  of  tli(^  dec(^ased, 
and  iiiiiu't\'^sin'j'  n])on  tlu^  latt(M'  tln^  necessitv  of  ;d)idinq 
hv  th(^  vnlict.  whatever  it  mi'jlit  he."'  '^Khis  was  done, 
and  everv  tliiniz'  was  conducted  with  dm^  ftrm  and  solemn- 


%lii»oi 


\  " 


_J 


< 


2-1 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ity.  The  Indian  witnesses  gave  tlie  most  satisfactory 
answers  wlien  questioned  as  to  their  ideas  of  tlic  obliga- 
tion of  an  oath,  and,  after  a  full  liearing,  the  defendant 
was  acquitted.  Tlie  decision  was  translated  to  the  com- 
plainants, and  they  were  told  that  to  kill  the  prisoner 
would  now  he  murder,  and  would  subject  them  to  the 
penalti(^s  of  that  crime. 

"^^r.  Ivost  then  rose,  and  stated  to  the  Couit  that  the 
prosecutors  had  left  their  hunting-ground  to  come  and 
avenge  the  death  of  their  relative,  as  it  was  their  (hUv  to 
do;  that  justice  had  been  done  to  the  accused,  but  that 
was  not  sufficient.  Justice  must  also  be  done  to  the  other 
side;  they  must  be  indenmified  f(.)r  the  inconvenience  they 
had  been  put  to,  and  the  loss  they  had  sustained;  and,  a.s 
the  coffers  of  the  treasury  would  not  unlock  at  the  bidtbng 
of  his  honor,  he  moved  that  the  bar,  jury,  and  bv-stand- 
crs,  contribute  a  sufTicient  amount  to  satisfy  them.  This 
was  done  as  soon  as  proposed,  and  the  prosecutors  declai'ed 
themselves  satisfied." 

The  institution  of  marriage  among  the  American  Indians 
is  by  no  means  so  restrictive  a  system  as  that  adopted  by 
enlightened  nations.  It  is  for  the  most  ])art  dissoluble  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  ]\arties,  and  polygamy  is  extensively 
))ractised.  As  with  other  barbarous  nations,  the  womau 
is  compelled  to  undergo  the  drudgery  of  daily  labor, 
while  her  lord  and  master  lounges  indolently  about  the 
village,  except  at  times  when  his  energies  are  called  forth 
for  hunting  or  war.  "When  once  engaged  in  these  ])ui'- 
suits.  his  fixedness  of  ])urpose,  and  the  readiness  with 
wdiich  he  will  undergo  the  extremes  of  tuil,  exposure, 
Imnger,  and  privation,  is  marvellous. 


IJfD  IjtM" 


\"^^ 


H!il''1 


ifU 


^ 


K 


>t*' 


I 


iW 


m 


ij. 


h  i 


f 


I 


^/t^Jk^ 


lyUIAK    TOMAHJI(*'K,     K  t:  T  T  I.  E ,    SPUOJV,     P/PK5,    «-«. 


GENKRAIi  CI[ArvA(TKK!.'-i'lC3. 


25 


CIIArTKIl  II. 

RKI-IOION    OF    Tlir,     INDIANS — TIIKIR     WKAl'ON'S,     AND     SYSTEM    OF 
WAKFAIiE — TIIKIR     r,OI)(;iN(.S,    DliCSS,    Oli NAM KNTS,    ETC. 

"Yet  simple  nature  to  liis  li(i|i"  Iwis  ;:ivi'ti, 
Behind  tlie  eliiii(l-t(>|)|)'il  iiill  ;in  linnilil'T  luMvon; 
Some  sMf'er  uurM,  in  deptlis  of  woods  eiiiliriiccd, 
Some  li:ippior  isl.uid  in  the  w;,tery  waste." — Pofe. 

Tiiiv  Indians,  helbrc  receiving  instruction  from  Euro- 
peans, ij^onerally  believed  in  the  existence  of  a  Supreme 
Deity,  (nnbodying  a  ])rinciple  of  universal  benevolencH), 
and  that  to  him  their  gratitude  was  due  for  all  natural 
bene  tits. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  stood  in  fear  of  a  spirit  of  evil, 
whoso  influence  upon  human  affairs  they  considered  aa 
being  more  direct  and  familiar,  ^io  this  being,  known 
among  many  tribes  as  llobamocko,  much  more  assiduous 
devotion  was  paid  than  to  the  Great  Spirit,  it  being  I'ar 
more  essential  in  their  view  to  de})r<cate  the  wrath  of  a 
terrible  enemy,  than  to  seek  the  i'avor  of  one  alrcadv 
perfectly  well  disposed  towards  his  creatures.  Besides 
these  two  superior  deities,  a  sort  of  fanciful  mythologv, 
not  unlike  that  of  many  ancient  East«!rn  nations,  invested 
every  notable  object  with  its  tutelary  di  vinit}^,  and  bestowed 
on  (^leh  individual  his  guardian  spirit. 

A  general  idea  that  the  good  would  be  rewarded,  and 
tlic  bad  j)unished,  was  entertained.  Far  away  to  tlie  warm 
South-west,  a  pleasant  land  was  fabled,  in  wdiich  the  hunter, 
after  death,  should  pursue  his  favorite  employment,  in  the 
midst  of  abundance,  and  a  stranger  for  ever  to  want  or 
fear ; 

"Where  everlasliiiiT  Antninii  lies 
On  yellow  woods  iuu!  sun.iy  skL'S." 


m 


""Nail, 


■!y 


26 


Tl 


IXDIAX  UACES  OF  AMimiCA. 


icir  lir;i\'(>ii  was  as  far  r(Mii()\'('(l   from  tlit>  sensual  para 
clis(!  of  ihc  Malioiiictaiis,  as  Iroiii  the  jturc  abstractions  of 


asc,  comCort,  and  a  sullicifnc 


an  (>nliglit(MK'(l  n'lij^non. 

for  llu'  natural  wants,  sct-nifd  all-siinicicnt  to  t 

child 


7 
iicsn  simple 


rcn  of  natiiiv   to  render  an  elernitv  di'li'ditCnl. 
'J'lio  description  handed  <lown  to  ns  of  the  Indian  ] 


l(  )W' 


wows  or  conjurers,   and   their  inedicine-inen,   dnive   an 
additional  pi(piancy  and  interest  fn^iu  the  fact,  that  those 


who  detail  them  were  generally  as  superstitious  as  the 
poor  natives  themselves.  We  mioht  eite  j)ages  in  which 
the  necromantic  perloi-manccs  of  the  red  men  are  s])oken 
of  with  all  the  i)ious  horror  that  would  naturally  he  excited 
by  what  were  considered  the  direct  ojieration.s  of  the  devil, 
as  dis])layed  in  the  works  of  his  children.  AVinslow, 
takin.i,'  occasion  to  explain  the  meaniii!,^  of  the  word  "  Pan- 
iese,"  often  a]»plied  to  notable  wai'riors  in  New  I']n<^dand, 
says,  "The  IVniescs  arc  men  of  great  courage  and  wis- 
dome,  and  to  these  also  the  dcuill  a])pcareth  more  famili- 
arly than  to  others,  and,  as  we  coneciue,  niaketli  couenant 
with  them  to  preserue  them  from  death  by  wounds  with 
arrowes,  knives,  hatchets,  ^c." 

Tiie  ^vorks  of  the  learned  divine,  Cotton  Mather,  are 
fdlcd  with  similar  extravagancies. 

'rh(>sc  powwows,  says  Gookin,  "are  }>artly  wizards  and 
witches,  holding  familiarity  with  Satan,  that  evil  one;  and 
partly  are  physicians,  and  make  use,  at  lea.'t  in  show,  of 
herbs  and  roots  for  curing  the  sick  and  diseased.  'J'hese 
arc  .sent  for  by  the  sick  and  wouided;  and  by  their  dia- 
bolical spells,  nuittcrings,  exorcisms,  they  seem  to  do  won- 
ders. They  use  extraonhnary  strange  motions  of  their 
bodies,  insomuch  that  they  sweat  until  they  foam;  and 
thus  they  continue  for  some  hours  together,  stroking  and 
hovering  over  the  sick.— These  ])owwows  are  reputed, 
and  I  cone(>ive  Justly,  to  hold  familiarity  with  the  devil." 

Wherever  the  Indians   have  enjoyed  free   intercoui'se 


w 


ith  th' 


thai 


1    ni 


weapon] 
or  defeil 


whole  (1 


s  oi 


bit 


by  the  ] 


Tl 


lese  al 


which   II 
a  nidi'  p 
I'ial,  coll 
thickly 
inhabite 
to  light 
have  bci 
cration, 
at  the  V 
York')  V, 
hands  of 
which  \\'( 
ductions 
abl<^  mat 
TFow  t 
with  an_; 
incompr( 
glue  whi 
shank  oi 
some  of 
impossit 
by  such 
prescntii 
the  torn 
material 
higlily  I 
"tomdic 


GEN'KUAL  CirAUACTKItlSTICS. 


27 


with  tho  wliitos,  tliov  li;iv(>  1)(M'n  no  less  caj^or  to*  adopt 
than  rii)t  to  acquire  the  use  ol'  their  inoi-e  ollicacious 
AvcapDiis.  It  is  of  the  ])riiiiitiv(>  iiistruincnts  (or  oHl'iico 
or  (IcH'iico  that  we  shall  now  spi^ak.  Sciittcn-il  over  the 
wlioh^  country,  oven  at  tho  [jrcscnt  day,  suiail  ti-ian^rular 
bits  of  wrout^ht  flint,  fpiait/:,  or  other  stone  are  tuiMied  up 
bv  the  plou'-'h,  or  seen  IviuLr  on  tlu^  sui'Caee  of  the  <rround. 
These  arrow-lioads,  Avith  occasionally  one  of  a  larger  si/(>, 
which  nii'jht  liave  serveil  f  )r  a  lance,  a  stone  loniahawk, 
a  rude  pestle,  or  the  fra.Lni.ent  of  a  bowl  ol'  the  same  uiate- 
ii;d,  constitute  almost  tho  oidy  marks  now  visible,  in  the 
thickly  settled  Ivisteru  states,  of  the  iac(^  that  formerly 
inliabit(!d  tluMn.  The  openin;^  of  a  tond)  sometimes  brinifs 
1o  light  other  relics,  and  various  speeiinens  of  native  art 
liav(!  been  preservdl  amr -ig  us  from  gen{!ratioii  to  gen- 
eration, as  curious  relies  of  antiquity;  but  until  wo  arrive 
at  the  Western  tumuli,  (cornmencnng  at  the  state  of  New 
York)  we  find  but  slight  impressions  upon  s</il  at  the 
hands  of  the  red  men,  and  tlio  i'vw  and  sirnjdc  articles  to 
wliich  wo  have  alluded,  eonstitut(3  the  most  important  ])ro- 
dnctions  of  their  skill,  exce{)t  those  formed  fi'om  a  peiish- 
able  material. 

TFow  the  arrow  and  lanee  heads  could  have  l)eon  attached 
with  any  degree  of  firmness  to  the  wood,  seems  almost 
incomprehensible.  Captain  Smith  describes  a  sp(>cies  of 
glue  which  assisted  in  accomplishing  this  objeet,  but  the 
shank  or  portion  of  the  stone  that  entei'cd  the  wooil  is  in 
some  of  the  specimens  so  short  and  ill  defined,  that  it  seems 
im])ossible  that  it  should  have  been  held  firm  in  its  place 
by  such  means.  Tho  arrow-heads  were  c]iip{)ed  into  shape, 
presenting  something  the  same  suriace  as  a  gun-flint,  while 
tho  tomahawks  and  pestles,  being  of  a  loss  intractable 
material,  were  gr'ound  smooth,  and  some  of  them  were 
highly  polishc(L  A  handle  was  commonly  affixed  to  the 
"tom-hog"  or  tomahawk  by  inserting  it  in  a  split  saj)ling, 


^ 


\k 


;^ 


^'^)-4  ,A-J 


111(1  \v;iit,iiur 


IMHAN    HACKS  ()K  AMKiilt'A. 


for  tl 


11'    \VO()( 


1  tl)  u'l'ow  liniilv  ;n'«Miiii|  it;  after 


wliicli,  it  was  cut  olV  at  tlic  r(><|iiisiti'  lt'ii^;ili. 

TIu'  Imliiin  how  was  slioi'tcr  tliaii  that  foniH-iIv  used  in 
I'iii.Ljlaiiil,  aiiil  was  so  still"  as  to  rciiuirc  i'iv;it   sf i'(Mi,i;11i  or 


(•  wi'aiioii 


skill  to  hciul  it.  It  l>i"raiiu'  a  liuirji  iiior(>  cH'crtiv 
al'ttM-  tlu'  iuti'otluctioii  of  stcrl  of  iron  aiiow-licads,  wliicll 
quickly  sii|)ci'S(m1c(1  tliosi>  of  stoiic.  (Miihs,  soiiiclimcs 
aniicil  with  lliiits,  with  the  liow  ami  tomahawk,  coiistiluto 


1); 


Hi 


!»•  I'Viiicipal  weapon  of  tlic  I'acc.  Pair^'i'S  of  Unit  or 
lioiic,  ami  shit>l(ls  of  ImlValo-hidc,  wcvc  in  use  among  st)mo 
of  the  \V(\st(M-n  tribes. 

Divided  into  innumenihlc!  jx^ttv  nations,  lu^arly  the  whole 
Indian  populati(Ui  lived  in  a  state  of  ins(>eurity,  from  the 
constant  hostility  which  prevailed  between  dillei-ent  tril)os. 
So  stroni:;  a  clannish  s]iii'it  as  they  all  exhihited  h;;s  seldom 
beiui  iiotieeil  in  any  (•ounti'v,  and  the  bittei-est:  haifed  wius 
inhei-iftHl  by  every  individual  towanls  the  iiK'inb(M's  of  an 
unfi'iendly  tribi>.  ^Va^,  as  in  most  nallons,  whetluM-  bar- 
barous ov  enliglitenod,  was  ever  estecMued  the  most  honor- 
able (Muploymont.  The  manner  in  which  hostilities  were 
condui'ted  will  appear  by  a  detail  of  some  of  the  more 
noted  Imlian  wars,  as  given  in  the  ensuin,^;  cliaj)t(U"s  of  this 
work.  '1  he  whole  was  a  system  of  stratagem  and  sur}>ri.se; 
a  jMtelunl  battle  in  an  op(Mi  tield  was  almost  nidoiown,  and 
greatc-r  honor  was  ascribed  to  the  chief  wlio,  by  a  night 
attat'k,  dostroycd  his  eiuMnies  at  a  (bsadvaiitage,  and 
brought  away  their  scalps  in  ti'iumph,  without  loss  to  his 
own  i)eoplo,  than  to  dct'ds  involving  the  greati\st  jiersonal 
ex]iosure.  The  remorseless  cruelty  with  which  women 
and  children  were  destroyed  in  the  heat  of  conllict,  luu 
furnished  a  tlieme  for  man_y  a  talc  of  horror. 

Previous  to  a  declaration  of  war  against  another  tribe, 
the  chief  men  and  councillors  of  the  nation  were  in  the 
habit  of  holding  solemn  consultations,  accompanied  by 
numerous  fantastic  ceremonies.    When  fully  resolved  ujion 


|io-;tiliti< 
man\'   oj 


lurpo.^c 


1' 


luni. 
liii 


ted 


what  wa ' 
omiiiou.- 
of  till  i.-e 
their  I'm 
out  waiti 
ing  tlu'  li 
body,  an 
had  Just 

When, 
minate  Ik 
ive  inline 
a  llag  of 
the.  ]>erso 
celcbi'alC'i 
carved  ai 
style  of  » 
was  know 
ceremoni( 
ratilicatioi 
of  a  peac( 
and  belts 
nieniorate 
Were  pre.s 

The  tr( 
trenies  of 
the  race, 
women  w 
indiLniitv. 
respect  w; 


(IKNKHAI-  C'lIAllACVKlUSTU'S. 


2'.) 


|io-;tiliti<'s  llic  lii'st  st<'|»  was  lo  si-cniv  llic  iissislaiifc  of  as 
m.'uiv  til'  till-  iu'i;j,lilH)i'iii^<f  trilx's  as  possiltlc,  fur  wliidi 
piirii.iM-  aml'a.-^sailors  Wfi'u  sent,  tftsct  litrtli  tlic  ailvaiita,L!vs 
of  till'  iiiiiiiii,  and  to  (•('iiUMit  a  treaty  I'V  t'XcliaiiL'i'  <»!'  waiii- 
|iiiiii.  W'Im'ii  !i11  was  rraily,  a  liati'IirL  or  oilier  \ve;i|)oii, 
jciiiiteil  i'e(|,  was  sent,  as  an  intimation  to  the  eiiems'  ol" 
wliat  w;is  in  store.  We  are  toM  that,  the  rci't'ption  ol'  this 
oniinons  token,  iVeiinentlv  excited  sneh  rat'e  in  the  Miiiids 
ol'  those  to  whom  it  was  sent ;  "that,  in  the  lirst  transport-'  of 
tlieii'  l'ni\',  a  Mnall  partv  ol'  iheiii  woiijil  issue  liirtli,  with- 
out waitin;j;  for  permission  Crom  the  elilcr  ehiel's,  and,  slay- 
in_L!,'  tiie  lirst  of  the  ollondin^i'  nation  they  met,  eutoj)en  tin; 
body,  and  stick  a  liafeliet,  ol*  tlu;  same  kind  as  that  they 
had  just  rceeiveil,  into  th(^  heai't  of  their  slau^rhtereil  foe." 

\Vhen,  w(>ary  witii  tlie  war,  eithei-  l>arly  desircij  to  ter- 
minate hostilities,  the  messaj^'e  was  sent  under  the  protect- 
ive inllnene(>  of  the  i-alumet,  or  |)ipe  of  peace,  which,  liko 
ii  llaii;  of  truce  among  other  nations,  e\'ery  whei'<>  secui'cd 
th(!  jierson  of  lliosc  wlio  bore  it.  Tiiis  pipe,  so  wiijely 
cclebi'atc  1,  and  (jl'siich  universal  use,  was  most  olal)oi';(lely 
carved  and  bedeckc(L  Mach  nation  had  its  own  peculiar 
style  of  oiMiamcnt  for  this  all-imj)ortant  synd)ol,  wdiich 
was  known  to  all  tlic  neighboring  trilies.  A  solenni  and 
ceremonious  smoking  of  the  calumet,  Ibrmed  the  token  of 
ratification  lo  every  treaty.  When  used  at  the  conclusion 
of  a  peace,  the  j)ainted  hatchet  "was  buried  in  tin;  ground, 
and  belts  of  wam])nm,  so  figured  and  arranged  as  to  com- 
iiiemoi'atc  the  essential  articles  of  the  ])acillc  agret'inent, 
Wei'c  i»iescnted,  U)  1)0  kc])t  tis  u  perpetual  mciiujriak 

'flie  ti'catment  of  ca})tives  exhibited  the  opposite  ex- 
tremes of  cruelty  and  kindness.  Greatly  to  the  credit  of 
the  race,  it  was  ob.servcd  that,  in  m(wt  instances,  wliite 
women  who  fell  into  their  hands  met  with  no  outrage'  or 
indignity.  They  were  generally  kindly  treated,  and  e\-cry 
respect  was  paid  lo  their  feelings.     The  men  taken  prison- 


Pii 


m 


^'* 


i^>^ 


ll'iH  lt« 


^ 


I  j  . 


30 


INDIAN   RACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


ITS  ()('  \v;if  \\  pro  (Mtlicr  a'l<»pt('(l  to  supply  tlu^  ])lnoe  of  tlioae 
wlio  IiikI  fiillcii  ill  l);ittli',  -in  which  casn  thcv  wore  to 
uiidcrtiikc  ;il!  the  rcsiJonsihiUticfl,  and  were  cntitkMl  to  :ill 
the  privik'g'S  <  C  the  one  in  wliosc  ))la('c  they  stood, — oi 
they  wcro  solemnly  dcjvotcd  to  dciith,  l>y  the  most  n'lincd 
and  cruel  torments  that  diabolical  ing(Miuitj  could  devise. 
On  such  occasions,  all  his  native  ])owers  of  stoical  (Midu- 
ranee  were  called  f'oith  on  the  part  of  tlu*  doomed  warrioi-. 
When  told  what  was  the  fate  belbn;  hini,  he  would  liridly 
express  his  satisfaction;  and  wIumi  led  t(t  th(>  stake,  and  sub- 
jected to  every  torture,  by  lire  an<l  mutilation,  h<;  would 
maintain  a  proud  composure,  recounting  his  exploits,  and 
the  injuries  which  he  had  inflicted  upon  his  tormentors 
ill  former  battles,  taunting  them  with  their  unskilfulness 
in  the  art,  and  describing  th<>  sujterior  manner  in  which 
he  and  his  friends  liad  tortured  their  relatives.  Not  unfre- 
queutly  the  rag(!  of  the  surrounding  company  would  be 
so  excited  by  these  expressions  of  contempt,  and  by  their 
inability  to  break  the  warrior's  si)irit,  that  some  of  thern 
would  rush  upon  him,  and  dispatch  him  at  once  by  a  blow 
of  the  tomahawk. 


The  habitations  and  clothin;.  '■>f  the  Indians  varied 
greatly  with  the  temperature  of  the  climate.  In  the  warm 
H'gions  of  the  South,  a  slight  covering  ]iroved  sunieient, 
■while  to  resist  the  severity  of  a  New  Kngland  winter  very 
eflicieiit  precautions  were  taken.  The  usual  manner  of 
building  their  wigwams,  was  by  fixing  a  row  of  poles 
firmly  in  the  ground,  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  and  then 
bending  and  confining  the  tops  together  in  the  center.  A 
hole  was  left  for  the  smoke  of  the  fire  to  escape,  at  the 
top  of  the  cabin;  every  other  part  being  warmly  and 
chjsely  covered  wdth  matting.     A  tight  screen  hung  over 


i 


t!u>  d<>| 
then  a, 
A  .1. 

frnni  til 
J  tress  11 II 
rushes, 
:us  to  el| 
Soiml 
iiCly  to 
of  diiiK 
consist"  • 
walls,  (»i 
I'lirnishi' 
househi  I 
eartheni 

illgeiiioil 

for  e(){ik 
making. 

In  ma 
set  in  or( 
centre;  \ 
sade,  lut\ 
iled  desc 
of  the  ex 
works  of 
])crciive( 

The  cl 
dressctl  w 
hand's  bi 
seam,  ai 
embroide 
a  garnien 
the  loins 
plcted  th 

YcTj  r 


ft 


I 

I 


GKNKKAI.  iMIAltAiTKKl.SlU'ri. 


81 


lite  .l.H.rwjiy,  wliicli  \v:is  raisnl  wlicii  any  <»iu*  i.'ntriTil,  \uu\ 
lliiMi  all'iwi  'I  ti)  fall  into  its  |ilact'. 

A  ."^jMrics  i>['  iiiattin^f  was  juvpaivd  ]>\  pcclin;.;  lli''  liark 
from  tivfs,  ami  siilijcciin,^  it,  parked  in  layors,  to  a  lu'avy 
iji't'ssniv.  With  this  material,  or  with  mats  woven  IVoni 
rushes,  «.^e.,  till'  walls  uftln'  Inits  wer<'  so  elosely  thateheil, 
;us  to  etVeetually  resist  w  iml  ami  weather. 

Some  of  these  \\i.^wams  were  of  ;^reat  size,  liein^'  from 
ilfty  t(»  a  hniMlreil  li'et  in  len.^th,  l)Ut  the  ^'eneraiity  were; 
of  dimensions  snitaltle  to  a  single  family.  Their  l)eildi.i<^ 
consiste(l  o['  mattresses  disj)osed  in  l>uid<s  attaehed  to  the 
walls,  or  upon  low  niovahlt!  eouehes.  J5ear  and  deer  skins 
furnished  additional  eovering.  Their  other  furnitun;  and 
househuld  utensils  were  sim[ile  in  the  extreme.  Clay  or 
earthern  ]")ts,  wooden  platters,  howls  and  spoons,  and  pails 
in"vniouslv  liishioned  of  hii'di  hark',  served  theii"  ]«urpose 
for  eookei'y  and  the  tahli'.  They  were  skilled  in  basket- 
making. 

Ill  many  of  their  towns  and  villag«'S,  the  wigwams  W(>ro 
set  in  oiderly  rows,  with  an  open  spaee  or  court  neai-  the 
centre;  while  iIm'  whole  was  surroumled  by  a  strong  j^ali- 
sad(>,  having  but  one  or  two  narrow  eiiti'anees.  I'or  spir- 
ited descrij)tions  and  sketches  of  tiu^  modeiMi  Indiai:  towns 
of  tlie  extreme  West,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  valuable 
works  of  Mr.  (leorge  Catlin.  In  many  res]>erts  it  will  be 
j)i'rceived  that  old  t'ustoms  are  still  observed. 

The  clolhiiig  of  the  Indians  consisted  mostly  of  skins, 
dressed  with  no  little  skill.  J.i'ggiiis  of  deer  skins,  v.itli  a 
hand's  breadth  of  the  material  hanging  loose  at  the  side 
seam,  and  often  highly  ornamented  with  friiig(!  and 
embn/idery;  moccasins  of  buck,  elk,  or  bulValo  skin;  a'ld 
a  garment  of  various  fashion,  from  a  sim}>le  cincture  about 
the  loins,  to  a  warm  and  oruaniental  mantle  or  coat,  com- 
pleted the  equipment  of  the  men. 

Yery  rarely,  even  iu  our  own  times,  do  we  find  Indians 


ir 


t 


t 


h 


('i 


til 


!>v  !    ^i!" 


M 


^*^ 


I 


I    '! 
1     I 


v: 


: 


00 


iNbiAX  j:aci:,s  ok  a.mkuica. 


wlio  nre  willhi^if  t<>  submit  to  tlic  i-c.-triciiiiiii:  and  iiicori- 
viMiieiit  (Irrss  of  tin;  wliitcs.  'i'licy  \in\v  always  Ik.'cu 
accustomed  to  Icav'c  the  tlii^Lili  bare,  and  about  the  ncclc 
tlK-y  call  endure  none  of  the  ehunsy  and  disagreeal)lc 
l)an(hi,Ln'S  in  sucli  universal  use  amoni;'  eivilized  nations. 
''Tiiose  who  wear  shirts,"  says  Carver,  "never  make  them 
fast,  either  at  the  wrist  or  ei)llar;  this  would  bo  a  most 
insullerablc  confinement  t(»  them." 

I'ho  women  wore  a  shoil  (Voek,  reaching  to  the  knees; 
their  covering  for  the  legs  and  i'e(>t  wei'c  similar  to  that 
worn  by  the  men.  Tn  some?  ])ortions  of  the  ccjuiti'y,  very 
Ix'autiful  s{)eeimens  ol'  ornamental  mantles,  covei'cd  with 
neatly-ai'ranged  I'eatht  rs,  were  se-en  ami  desi;ribe(l  liy  early 
writers.  Colored  |)oi'eu[»ine  (luills  were  in  general  use, 
b(jth  for  stitcliing  and  ornamenting  the  clothing  and  other 
e(]uipments  of  the  Indian. 

A  fondness  for  gay  colors  and  gaudy  oi'naments  has 
ever  been  conspicuous  in  the  whole  race,  I'rom  f)ocone 
and  other  roots,  a  brilliant  red  ))aint  or  dye  was  jire])ared, 
with  which  and  with  otlu  r  pignuMits  —as  charcoal,  eaitlis, 
and  extracts  from  the  l)arks  of  eeitain  trees — tlay  painhd 
their  bodies,  in  difllient  styles,  eithei'  to  mala-  a  tei-i'ilile 
impression  on  their  enemies,  or  sini|)i3'  to  bedeck  themselves 
in  a  V)ccoming  manner  in  the  (n'(\s  of  their  friends.  'J'he 
usual  savage  custom  of  wearing  {)endants  at  the  ears  w;is 
common.  The  cartilage  was  frequently  stretched  and 
enlarged  by  weights,  and  by  winding  it  with  brass  wire, 
until  it  nearly  reached  the  shoulder.  'ratl')oing  was  pr.ic- 
lised  by  some  nations,  but  noi  so  systematically,  or  to  so 
great  an  extent  as  h.is  been  observed  among  the  savages 
of  wanner  climates,  wdiere  little  clothing  is  worn. 

One  of  the  most  noted  s]»ccies  of  ornament,  which 
answered  all  the  ])urpose  of  a  circulating  medium  among 
the  Kastern  Indians,  was  wampum,  This  consisted  of 
small  circular  bits  of  sea-shell,  smoothly  ground  and  })ul- 


isiieu 

whic 

belt 

clam 

varie; 

most 

b(jrin.< 

von^ 

credit 

wampi 

it  rctai 

or  whii 

olfcnce 

'"J'h 

pally  I 

U])on  t 

.shells  I 

tribute, 

wrongs, 

occasior 

them,  as 

in  havii; 

guns,  n( 

ries  whi 

their  pe 

worn  pea 

The  F 

the  presi 

fish,  bea 

maize  oi 

land  in  t 

and  casil 

of  the  te 

were  a  v 

who  dwc 


h 


Ml 


GENERAL  ClIAKACTKIUSTICS. 


33 


isliftl,  with  a  liole  drilled  througli  the  centre  of  each,  hy 
vvliich  it  iiii<j,ht  be  strung,  or  attachiMl  oruaiaeutally  to  the 
belt  or  other  parts  of  the  dress.  The  "qua-hojj;"  or  round 
clam  furnished  the  principal  material  for  this  coin,  the 
varie.uated  ])urple  portions  of  the  shell  being  much  the 
most  valuable.  The  great  labor  in  })re])aring  it,  was  the 
boring,  which  was  elfected  by  a  shai'p  flint.  AVhen  we 
consider  the  slow  natui'e  of  such  a  process,  we  can  scarce 
credit  the  accounts  given  of  the  immense  quantities  of 
\vamj)um  that  were  procured  by  the  white  colonists,  while 
it  retained  its  value,  in  exchange  for  European  commodities, 
or  which  were  exacted  as  tribute,  in  atonement  for  nationid 
ol  fences. 

"'J'he  wompornpeague,"  says  Gookin,  "is  made  princi- 
pally by  the  Block  Islanders  and  Long  Island  Indians. 
U{)on  the  sandy  Hats  and  shores  of  those  coasts  the  wilk 
shells  are  found.  With  this  wompomjieague  they  ])ay 
tribute,  ^-edeem  captives,  satisfy  fur  murders  and  other 
wrongs,  purehasc  peace  with  their  potent  neighbors,  iis 
occasion  requires;  in  a  word,  it  answers  all  occasions  with 
them,  as  gold  and  silver  doth  with  us.  They  delight  much 
in  having  and  using  knives,  combs,  scissors,  hatchets,  hoes, 
guns,  needles,  awls,  looking-glasses  and  such  like  necessa- 
ries which  they  purchase  of  the  English  and  Dutch  with 
their  peague,  and  then  sell  them  their  peltry  for  their 
wompeague." 

The  principal  articles  of  food  used  by  the  aborigines  of 
the  present  United  States,  were  the  products  of  the  chase, 
fish,  beans,  some  species  of  squashes  and  pumpkins,  and 
maize  or  Indian  Corn.  Wild  rice,  growing  in  rich  wet 
land  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  furnished  a  wholesome 
and  easily  gathered  supply  of  fariniiceous  food  to  the  tribes 
of  the  temperate  portion  of  the  United  States.  Shell  iish 
were  a  very  important  addition  to  the  resources  of  those 
who  dwelt  near  the  sea-coast,  and  in  the  interior,  various 


'.  .^ 


r-.« 


!!t' 


'i' 


(til 


i 


5^>a^ 


i   i 


I'  ii 


ill 


!!r» 


.11 


i   •' 


«    ■ 


\i 


1  i 


111 


34 


INDIAN  KACK,^  OF  AMEUICA. 


species  of  wild  ix)ots,  ;uul  certain  nutritious  bark  supplied 
the  failure  of  the  cultivated  croj),  and  furnished  the  means 
to  eke  out  a  subsistence  when  the  hunt  was  unsuccessful 
or  the  last  year's  stores  had  been  consumed  before  the  sea- 
son (>f  harvest. 

To  ell'ect  a  clearing,  and  to  secure  a  crop  with  such  rude 
implemenis  of  stone  as  they  possessed,  ajipcars  to  us  almost 
an  impracticable  undertaking;  but  we  are  assured,  by  early 
writers,  that  they  obtained  as  large  a  yield  from  a  given 
spob  of  ground  as  can  be  produced  by  the  assistance  of 
all  modern  conveniences  and  contrivances.  '^J'wo  dishes, 
greatly  in  vogue  among  the  Indians,  have  maintained  their 
j)opularity  among  their  Euroj)ean  successors.  Green  corn, 
the  ripening  of  which  was  celebrated  by  a  national  dance, 
is  sought  as  eagerly  as  when  it  su})plied  a  grateful  refresh- 
ment to  the  red  men,  emaciated,  as  Smith  describes  them, 
by  the  Spring  diet  of  fish  and  roots.  A  preparation, 
denominated  "Succotash,"  consisting  of  maize,  boiled  with 
beans,  and  flavored  with  fat  bear's  meat,  or  lish,  still 
remains  (with  the  substitution  of  pork  for  wild  meats)  a 
favorite  dish  in  New  England.  Carver  says  that,  as  pre- 
pared by  the  natives,  it  was  "be3'ond  comparison  delicious." 

It  is  singular  that  the  use  of  milk  should  have  been 
entirely  unknown  before  the  advent  of  the  whit^-s,  although 
there  were  various  animals  in  the  country  from  which  it 
might  have  been  procured.  This  fact  has  been  adduced 
as  a  strong  argument  against  the  hypothesis,  that  immi- 
grants from  the  nomadic  tribes  of  Tartary  have  mingled 
with  tlie  red  race  in  comparatively  modern  times.  If  the 
ferocity  or  wildness  of  the  buffalo,  deer,  or  elk,  had  at 
first  seemed  to  render  their  domestication  impracticable, 
yet  it  is  not  probable  that  so  important  an  article  of  sul)- 
sistence  would  have  been  not  only  disused,  but  entirely 
forgotten,  until  many  generations  had  passed  away. 

With  the  foregoing  brief  sketch  of  some  of  the  more 


[)roce 

sornc^ 

with 

omiss 

tic'.Iai 

beloiu 


^ 


GKNKUAL   CHARACTERISTICS. 


35 


murked  [iidiau  traits  and  peculiarities,  we  will  dismiss  tliis 
portion  of  our  subject;  and,  dealing  no  more  in  generalities, 
I)roceed  to  take  up  the  history  of  various  tribes  and  nations, 
somewhat  in  the  order  of  the  dates  of  their  first  intercourse 
with  Europeans.  AVe  need  make  no  apology  for  the 
omission  of  many  minor  clans,  or  for  avoiding  that  par 
ticv.larity,  in  the  delineation  of  private  character,  which 
belongs  rather  to  biography  than  to  general  history. 


-,.i: 


•    ^    , 


Si    -1 


'4\ 
i 


^ji*^*^ 


'■%, 


ii;' 


I 

H!  I 


'II 


AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

UNITED    STATKS    TKKKITORY,    ETC. 

•Tat  wliiitrre  Tlifs.;,  still  stiiiicliii^r  i„  the  iiiulst? 
Tlio  E:,  .ii  lius  rocked  bcnciitli ;  tlie  TliuiHhT-.stone 
PuHsod  tlirouj^ii  and  through,  ;ind  loft  its  tnices  there, 
Yet  still  they  stand  as  hy  some  Unknown  Charter! 
Oh,  they  arc  Natur/s  own!  and,  as  allied 
To  the  vast  iM'iintaitiH  and  tin;  eternal  Sea, 
They  want  no  written  history;  theirs  a  voice 
For  ever  speaking  to  the  heart  of  Man!"' — Rogers. 

Ix  the  absence  of  any  written  record  of  tliose  niirneroiis 
races  which  formerly  peopled  this  hemisj)here,  information 
must  be  songht  in  their  monim-ients,  and  in  the  disinterred 
relics  of  their  ancient  manner  of  life.  Tliese,  considerin<r 
the  almost  vmbroken  wilderness  which  presented  itself 
to  the  first  white  adventurers,  arc  surprisingly  numerous. 
They  indicate  the  former  existence  of  populous  nations, 
excelling  in  many  of  the  arts  of  civilization,  and  capable, 
by  their  numbers  and  combination,  of  executing  the  most 
gigantic  works  for  religion,  public  defence,  and  commen> 
oration  of  the  dead.  Such  relics,  though,  for  the  most  pan, 
not  immediately  pertaining  to  the  history  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  have  sup])orted  the  conjectures  advanced  by  Iliun- 
boldt  and  other  eminent  cosmographers,  that  these  races  arc 
but  the  dwindled  and  degraded  remains  of  once  flourishing 
and  populous  nations.  The  retrograde  process  to  which 
certain  forms  of  incomplete  civilization  appear  doomed,  hits 


perliap 

to  be  (I 

of  the 

miiniti( 

'J'he 

sligjitly 

and  sin 

conunoi 

TJie  flii 

stone  to 

tory  and 

diifer  bi 

their  sue 

Kxcej 

stone,  ai 

in  the  co 

architect 

occnj)yin 

Indian  ti 

and  of  si 

ally  suj)j) 

art  and  ( 

character: 

rude  ])arr 

dwindled 

raced  ju'j 

nuis  to  tt 

Mexican  < 

The  ori; 

remains,  it 

and  perph 

unknown 

i/^ation ;   yi 

to  furnish 

their  long- 


..*J 


AMKliTCAN  ANTIQUITIKS. 


87 


perhaps  been  most  strikingly  cxcrnjjlified  in  the  difTcronce 
to  be  (liscovcrod  between  the  fe(>ble  and  scattennl  ti'ibcs 
of  the  red  race,  and  those  jiowerfid  and  popuk)U3  com- 
munities  who  occujiiod  the  soil  before  them. 

'J'ho  reli(.s  (if  the  ibnner  people,  usually  diseovcred  on  or 
slightly  beneath  the  surfaee  of  the  ground,  an>  of  a  i-udc 
find  simple  character,  diilering  little  from  the  sj)eciincns 
cotnrnon  among  their  descendants  of  the  presoit  day. 
^riie  flint  arrowdiead,  ehip})ed  painfully  into  shaj)e — tlu^ 
stone  tomahawk,  knife,  and  chisel — the  pipe,  the  rude  pot- 
tery and  savage  ornaments,  are  their  oidy  relics;  and  llicso 
dill'cr  but  little  from  the  siimc  articles  still  fabricated  by 
their  successors. 

Ivxcept  among  the  Ksquimanx,  who  occasionally  use 
stone,  and  who  avail  thcnnselvcs  of  the  arch  and  dome 
in  the  construction  of  th(Mr  snow  huts,  nothing  like  regular 
architecture  can  be  assigned  to  the  late  or  modern  tribcH 
occuiiviii"  this  continent  northward  of  ^^(!.\ico.  The 
Indian  tunudi,  or  mounds  of  burial,  are  generally  small 
and  of  simple  constrr"tion.  It  has,  however,  been  ration- 
ally sujiposcd  tluit  the  A)rce  of  religious  custom,  surviving 
art  and  civilization,  has  j^rescrved  to  the  red  tribes  this 
charactei'istic  method  ol'  their  forefathers;  and  that  the 
rude  barrows,  which  they  still  erect,  arc  but  the  ]>uny  anil 
dwindled  descendants  of  those  mighty  mounds  and  ter- 
raced pyramids  which  still  rear  their  heads  from  the  isth- 
mus to  the  lakes,  and  from  the  shores  of  Flori<la  to  the 
M  e  X  i  ca  n  Cord  i  1 1  c  ras. 

The  origin  of  these  and  of  other  unquestionably  ancient 
remains,  is  to  the  antiquarian  a  question  of  the  most  lively 
and  perplexing  interest.  Here,  in  unknown  ages  and  for 
unknown  periods,  have  existed  wealth,  j)ower,  and  civil- 
ization; yet  the  remains  by  which  these  arc  indic^  ed  seem 
to  furnish  but  a  slight  clue  to  the  epoch  and  histoiy  of 
their  long-vanished  con.structors.     Witliin  the  Tnounds  and 


'1  ) 


i 


i!,i| 


'^g^Jto-M 


I-  • 


i 


'11 
'III 


i  < 


I'l 
•li 


111 


J8 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEltlCA. 


mural  embankments  scattered  llirougli  a  large  portion  of 
this  ccjuntry,  are  found  tlic  remains  of  high  mechanical 
and  scientific  art.  Pottery,  the  most  fragile  of  man's 
works,  yet  almost  indestruetible  by  time,  still  rcr::ains  in 
large  quantities  and  in  good  })rescrvation.  In  the  com- 
position and  coloring  of  these  articles,  much  chemical  skill 
is  evinced;  while  in  many  cases,  their  grace  of  form  fuid 
perfection  of  finish  rival  the  remains  of  Grecian  or  Ktrus- 
can  art.  Some  of  these  ancient  vessels  are  of  immense 
size;  one,  disinterred  from  a  Western  mound,  being  eight- 
een feet  in  length  by  six  in  breadth.  Glass  beads  of  ra'-e 
and  elaborate  construction  have  been  found;  stone  orna- 
ments, skilfully  wrought,  and  brick,  much  resembling 
that  in  modern  use,  have  been  often  discovered. 

Metallic  remains  ore  frequent.  Cojiper,  used  both  for 
vvcajions  and  for  ornament,  has  often  been  found,  and  occa- 
sionally specimens,  j)lated  with  silver,  have  been  disinter- 
red. At  an  ancient  mound  in  Marietta,  a  silver  cup 
finely  gilt  on  the  inside,  was  exposed  to  view  by  the  wasii- 
ing  of  a  stream.  It  has  been  often  questioned  whether 
the  use  of  iron  was  known  to  these  aboriginal  races;  but 
except  the  occasional  jircsence  of  rust  in  the  excavations, 
little  has  been  ascertained  with  certainty — the  perishable 
nature  o^  that  metal  {)eculiarly  exposing  it  to  the  destroy- 
ing influ  .ice  of  time  and  dampness. 

Inscriptions  n\H)v  rocks,  mostly  of  a  hieroglyphic  char- 
acter, are  numerous;  and  on  the  walls  of  several  caverns 
in  the  west,  some  extraordinary  specimens  may  be  seen. 
In  the  same  gloomy  rece])tacles  have  been  found  numbers 
of  a  species  of  mummy,  most  carefully  prc]:)ared,  and 
beautifully  covered  with  colored  feathers,  symmetrically 
arranged.  Stone  cofTms  and  burial  urns  of  great  bei'.uty 
have  also  been  diainhumed  from  the  Western  mouiuls. 


II 


The 

almost 

It  has  b( 

"I  shou' 

five  tho: 

more  th; 

he  remar 

ascertain 

monume 

other  st:i 

These  re 

the  Missi 

and  the 

of  tlieir 

the  latter 

which,  in 

to  have  r 

It  i-5  1-0 

touijh  the 


AMERICAN  ANTigLlTlES.  39 

MOUNDS    AMI)    FORTIFICATIONS. 

•**         *         *  *         Are  they  Ihto — 

The  de;ul  of  otlicr  (liyn? — And  diil  tlic  dust 

or  tliese  fiir  sulitiidt's  om-e  stir  with  life, 

And  burn  •.vith  (tMssioii? — Let  the  niiyli'v  moundB 

That  overhxik  the  rivers,  or  tiiat  rise 

III  the  dim  forest,  erowded  with  old  oaks, 

Answer.      A  race  that  Ion;,'  lias  passed  away 

Built  them;  a  disei|iliMed  and  pojmhms  rare 

Heaped,  with  ioiifr  toil,  the  earth,  while  yet  the  Gre.ek 

Was  hewiii;,'  the  I'eiitelieus  to  forms 

(If  symmetry,  ;iiid  rearing  on  its  rock 

The  glitteriii^f  Parthenon.     These  nniplo  fields 

Nonrishi'd  their  iiarvests;  here  their  herds  were  fed, 

When  haply  hy  their  stalls  the  hison  lowed, 

And  bowed  his  mailed  shoulder  to  the  yoke." 

liuYANT. 

The  mural  remains,  in  the  United  States  alone,  are  of 
almost  incredible  number,  and  of  most  imposing  magnitude. 
It  has  been  asserted  by  an  accurate  western  antiquarian — 
"I  should  not  exaggerate  if  I  were  to  say  that  more  than 
five  thousand  might  be  found,  some  of  them  enclosing 
more  than  a  hundred  acres."  The  mounds  and  tumuli, 
he  remarks,  are  far  more  numerous.  Professor  Kafmesque 
asceitained  the  exi.stencc  of  more  than  five  hundred  ancient 
monuments  in  Kentucky  alone,  and  fourteen  hundred  in 
other  states,  most  of  which  he  had  personally  examined. 
The.se  remains  a])pear  most  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  i\[ississi})pi  and  its  tributaries,  and  near  the  great  lakes 
and  the  rivers  which  flow  into  them.  A  striking  proof 
of  tlieir  immense  antiquity  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that 
the  latter  stand  upon  tiie  ancient  margin  of  the  lakes,  from 
which,  in  some  immemorial  age,  their  waters  are  knr.  vn 
to  liave  receded. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the.se  peculiar  works  of  antiquity 
toiijh  the  ocean  ouly  in  Florida  at  the  southern  extremity 


j     U' 


.::   M; 


I        !. 


•lllvil 


(       ?!  I 


i 


-I 


I! 


'im'v 


i'. 


H: 


.•I;".. 


!■ 


il.^ 


11 


I 


,1 


^1 


'  i 


I     (! 


•10 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


of  the  Atlantic  coivst;  and  their  greater  number  and  maf^- 
nitnile  in  the  south  and  west  seems  to  fortify  the  supj)osi- 
tion  that  their  founders  came  originally  from  Mexico,  and 
were,  perhajys,  a  people  identical  with  the  builders  of  Clu;- 
lula  and  l^cotihuacan. 

"^^riie  extent  of  some  of  these  works  is  extraordinary. 
In  New  York,  (where  at  least  a  hundred  of  them  have  been 
surveyed)  in  the  county  of  Onondaga,  ft)rmcrly  existed 
the  remains  of  a  fortilication  enclosing  more  than  five 
himdred  acres.  Thn^c  circular  forts,  disposed  as  a  trian- 
gle, aTid  situated  about  eight  miles  distant  from  each  other, 
served  as  its  outworks.  In  many  of  these  fortified  places, 
considerable  military  skill  is  evinced;  angles,  bastions, 
and  curtains,  being  frequently  traceable.  "Though  much 
defaced  by  time,"  says  a  traveller,  of  the  entrenchments 
near  lake  Pepin,  "every  angle  was  distinguishable,  and 
anpeared  i\s  regular,  and  fn.'^'hioncd  with  as  much  military 
skill,  as  if  planned  by  Vauban  himself." 

Some  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these  works  have  been 
discovered  in  Georgia.  On  the  banks  of  the  Little  River, 
near  Wrightsborough,  are  found  the  remnants  of  "a  stu- 
pendous conical  pyramid,  vast  tetragon  terraces,  and  a 
large  sunken  or  excavated  area  of  a  cubical  form,  encom- 
passed with  banks  of  earth,  and  also  the  remains  of  an 
extensive  town."  Other  and  similar  structures  occur  in 
the  same  region.  On  the  Savannah,  among  other  extensive 
remains,  is  a  conical  mound,  truncated,  fifty  feet  in  height, 
and  eight  hundred  in  circumference  at  its  base.  In  other 
portions  of  the  same  region  are  found  excavations,  and 
vjvst  quadrangular  terraces.  Florida  abounds  in  vestiges 
of  a  similar  nature. 

At  the  west,  these  remains  assume  a  much  more  perma- 
nent and  imposing  character.  On  a  branch  of  the  Musk- 
ingum river,  in  Ohio,  a  series  ofer/i  ;hments  and  mounds, 
two  miles  in  length,  and  of  great  Lv>iidity  of  structure,  is 


.0(1111(1  ti 
of  firti 
or.il  niil 
At  Ci 
pive  r;ii 
a  CDfl'cc 
points  () 
In  most 
tliongh 
with  tlie 
are  (eatni 
west,   the 
edit  ices 
8truct('(l  ( 
su])erior 
In  Mis 
of  stone 
one  instai 
and  squai 
some  of  tl 
one  of  the 
truncated, 
cum  fere nc 
These  jj 
and  thickl 
of  them  ai 
connected 
the  graiidc 
altars  of  i 
mounds  in 
by  their  g 
of  their  co 
described. 

*  The  usi 
occasionally 


^      — . 


AMKKK'AN  ANTIQITI'IKS. 


41 


found  1 1)  exist.  In  Licking  oounty,  a  most  extensive  range 
of  foriitieations,  eml>raeing  or  protecting  an  extent  of  sev- 
eral miles,  has  been  traced. 

At  ('i'";lcville,  in  the  same  state,  were  found  two  exten- 
pjve  earthen  enclosures,  one  an  exact  circle,  and  the  other 
:i  ('(jirect  square,  corrcs])onding  j)n'cisely  to  the  cu'dinal 
points  of  the  compass;  and  a  mound  ninety  feet  in  height. 
In  most  of  these  and  other  similar  ruins,  stone  was  us(>d. 
though  t(;  a  limited  extent.  J^u'allel  walls,  communicating 
with  the  water,  sometimes  at  a  distance  of  several  miles, 
ai'c  features  common  to  many  of  th(>se  structiu'cs.  ,l''arther 
W(\st,  the  extensive  use  of  brick  in  constructing  similar 
cdiilces  has  been  a.scertained;  and  an  ai'ched  sewer,  c<>n- 
structed  of  stone,  indic;ites  a  kno\vled'j(M)f  architet;ture  far 
superior  to  that  possessed  by  most  semi-civili/cd  nations. 

In  Mi.ssouri,  and  otlier  regi(;ns  of  the  west,  the  remains 
of  .stone  building.s  have  been  frecpiently  discovered  -  in 
one  instanc(>,  those  of  a  town,  regularly  laid  out  in  streets 
and  srpuires.  Upon  the  Mi-ssoui'l  and  Arkans^us  rivers, 
some  of  the  most  extensive  fortified  woiks  are  found.  In 
one  of  these,  on  the  latter  river,  are  two  immense  mounds, 
truncated,  each  eighty  feet  high,  and  one  thousand  in  cii'- 
cnmterence  at  the  ba.sc. 

These  gii^antic  mounds  are  amoncr  the  mo.st  interestin;.' 
and  thickly  scattered  relics  of  the  vanished  races,  ^fany 
of  them  are  tumuli,  or  .scj)ulehres  of  the  dead,  others  were 
connected  with  the  defensive  fortilications,  and  other.s,  of 
the  grandest  and  most  imjiosing  aspect,  were  probably  Inure 
altars  of  idolatrous  worship.''*  In  general,  these  ancient 
mounds  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  Indian.-i 
by  their  greater  she,  and  still  more  certainly  by  the  nature 
of  their  contents.  Some  of  these  latter  have  already  biH-n 
described.     Besides  utensils  of  lead,  silver,  and  copper,  the 

*  Till'  usu m1  rn;iteri;il  einployi'd  in  tlieir  coiistruction  is  cartli,  though 
ocvaaioiuiUy  tliuy  liave  hvcn  built  of  stone. 


i     t 


M 


M 


%M^^ 


i 


in 


• 


ii: 


n ' 


'   •! 


42 


INDIAN   lUCKri  OF  AMERICA. 


oxydi/ed  rcinaiiis  of  iron  liiivo  been  found.  Micii  inirrorw 
ol"  various  si/cs,  with  a  variety  of  niariiio  .shells,  are  among 
the  deposits. 

'I'ho  praetiec  of  hurning  the  dead  ai)|)oars  to  liave  l)e(>n 
conunon.  Masses  of  ashes  and  eharcoid  are  often  foun<l 
lui.ved  with  ineinerated  bones.  In  K;iirlicld  eounty,  Ohio, 
a  huge  earthern-warc  ealdron,  placed  upon  a  furnace,  was 
disiuLerrcd.  It  was  eighteen  feet  l(Mig  by  six  bi'oad;  and 
contained  the  skeletons  of  twt'lv(.'  pei'sons,  besi(U's  vari(Mis 
articles,  which  had  been  buried  with  thein.  Thcv  were 
in  a  large  mound,  lift  ecu  feet  beU)W  the  surface  of  the  earth. 

In  the  great  mound  at  Circleville,  an  inunense  number 
of  skeletons  were  found,  all  laid  with  their  heads  toward 
the  centre. 

In  Illinois,  nearly  oj)posite  St.  Louis,  within  the  circuit 
of  a  few  miles,  are  more  than  an  humb-ed  and  fifty  mounds, 
some  of  extraordinary  size.  One  of  them,  formerly  occu- 
pied by  monks  of  the  Order  of  La  Trapj)e,  is  ninety  feet 
in  hci'dit  and  nearly  half  a  mile  in  circumference.  It  is 
a  remarkable  circumstance  that  the  soil  of  which  these 
liuge  cones  arc  constructed,  must  occasionally  have  been 
brought  from  a  great  distance.*  The  occasional  exist- 
ence of  terraces  or  stages  of  ascent  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate a  similarity  of  origin  with  the  pyramidal  structures 
of  Mexico. 

Lideed,  it  is  difTicult  to  suppose  that  the  authors  of  these 
extensive  reinains  coukl  have  had  other  than  a  south-west- 
ern origin.  All  are  ancient  in  the  extreme;  yet  probably 
they  ^vcre  erected  by  successive  races,  and  the  most  ven- 
erable anticpiity  seems  attached  to  the  forest-covered 
mounds  of  the  West. 

Mr.  Bradford,  in  his  interesting  Ecscarches  into  the  Ori- 
gin of  the  Red  Kace,  (from  which  many  of  the  foregoing 

*  IMimy  others  ot'irivnt  size,  vnryinnf  sotnewhiit  in  form,  yet  all  evincing 
a  striking  siiijilanty  in  eonstriietio:i,  nii^lit  be  described. 


facts  li.iA 
coiK;lusi( 

L  "T 
tlu;  saiu( 
tutions. 

2.   '•'!' 

extent  <> 

>}    II  'I 
t>.       1 

civili/ati( 

ill  extens 

■1.  "Tl 
such  as  1 
art  of  uo 

o.  "Th 
that  mate 

0.  That 
stej)s;  of 
formed  wi 
chemical  c 

7.  "Thi 
that  substi 

8.  "Th; 
the  in  finer 

0.   "^Jli: 
and  a  my 
its   sister 
priesthood 

10.  "Tl 

n.  '"JM 
United  Sti 

Lastly, 
gathered  \ 
point  tovvti 


AMKIUCA.V  ANTKjL'ITlKS. 


43 


fiicts  have  l)Oon  (Iniwn,)  iidopts  witli  safety  tlio  following 
comilnsioiis  in  re<.^'\''il  to  the  juicii'iit  occiipiints  of  oui-  soil. 

I.  "That  tli(>y  were  Jill  of  the  satiie  origin,  braJiehcs  of 
the  same  raee,  and  possessed  of  similar  customs  and  insti- 
tutions. 

'2.  "That  they  were  po])ulous,  and  oerujtied  a  great 
extent  of  territory. 

;'.  "That  they  had  arrived  at  a  considerahle  degree  of 
civilization,  were  associated  in  large  communities,  and  lived 
in  extensive  cities. 

•1.  "That  they  })Osscsscd  the  use  of  many  of  the  rnetal>», 
sucli  as  lead,  eo))per,  gold,  and  silver,  and  probably  the 
ai't  of  working  in  them. 

;j.  "'i'hat  they  sculj)tured,  in  stone,  and  sometimes  used 
that  mat(M'ial  in  the  construction  of  their  edilices. 

(!.  'J'hat  they  had  the  knowledge  of  tlu;  an^h  of  I'eccding 
stej)s;  of  the  art  of  ])otteiT, — i)roducing  urns  and  utensils 
formed  with  taste,  and  constructetl  u])on  the  princi])h\s  of 
chemical  composition;  and  of  the  ait  of  biii/k-making. 

7.  "  'I'hat  they  worked  the  salt  s])rings,  and  manufactured 
that  sid)stanee. 

8.  "That  they  were  an  agricidtural  people,  living  under 
the  influence  and  j)rotection  of  regidar  i'orms  of  government. 

II.  "'J'hat  they  })ossessed  a  decided  system  of  religion, 
and  a  mythoh^gy  connected  with  astronomy,  which,  with 
its  sister  science,  geometry,  was  in  the  liauds  of  the 
priesthood. 

10.  "That  they  were  skilled  in  tlie  art  of  fortification. 

11.  "'J'liat  the  epoch  of  their  original  settlement,  in  the 
United  States,  is  of  great  antiquity;  -  iid, 

ImMUj,  "That  the  oidy  indications  of  their  origin,  to  be 
gathered  from  the  locality  of  their  ruined  monumeiiT-s, 
point  toward  Mexico." 


=i|    ■  i,.^#^*i 


'^>^ 


!l 


i'l    I 


44 


IN  III  A \    HACKS  OF  AMKlllCA. 


CnAI'TKIl   11. 

ANTIliL'ITir.S    or    MrA-lfO,    KTO. 

"TIk  V  stand  iM-twctTi  tin-  riKtiintaiin  aiui  tlio  non; 
Awful  iiicmitiiils,  IhiI  of  wlmiii  we  know  not  I 
— 'I'iint!  was  tlit'V  stuiid  alonj,'  llin  crowded  Hlreot, 
Tc'inplo  of  (lodsl" — Uu(;i:uM. 

The  Soutli-wpstrrii  icgion.s  of  N'oith  America  present  a 
rnost  extensive  luid  interesting  Held  for  iinti(iuarian  researeli. 
'JMic  lon;^-eontinuc(l  existence  of  powerful,  civilized,  and 
populous  races  is  fidlv  proved  by  the  occurrence  of  almost 
innumerable  ruins  and  national  rt>lies.  Kveti  in  the  six- 
teenth ecnturv,  the  Sjtanish  invaders  ftiund  these  re;.^ioiis 
in  tlu^  j.ossession  of  a  higldy-prosperous  and  partially- 
civilized  i)eopU>.  ( lovfrnrncnt  and  social  institutions  wrvo 
upon  that  firm  and  well-delined  basis  which  bctohent-d 
long  continuance  nnd  strong  national  sentiment.  In  nuniy 
of  the  rrts  and  sciences,  the  subjugated  races  were  eipiai, 
and  in  others  sajx-rior,  to  tluur  Christian  conqiierors. 
Their  jmblic  edifices  and  internal  iin{)rovements  were  on 
as  high  a  scale,  and  of  as  scientihc  a  character,  as  those 
of  most  European  nations  of  the  day. 

The  fanatical  zeal  of  Cortez  and  his  successor.^?  destroyed 
invaluable  records  of  their  history  and  nationality;  and 
many  of  their  most  splendid  edifices  fell  before  the  ravages 
of  war  and  bigotry;  yet  numerous  structures  still  exist, 
though  in  ruins,  attesting  the  art  and  industry  of  their 
founders.  Pyramids,  in  great  numbers,  still  rear  their 
terraced  and  truncated  surfaces  through  the  land.  In  tlio 
first  fury  of  tiie  eon([uest,  the  great  Teocalli,  or  Temple 
of  the  city  of  Mexico,  was  levelled  to  the  ground,  and 
we  can  only  lc;iru  by  the  descrijition  of  its  destroyers,  with 
what  ]H)i.ip  and  ceremcmy  the  ^[exicans  celebrated  on  ita 


I 


4 


Auininit  t 
.sal  figun 
gold,  the 
of  tlic  <j;rt 
tion  ol'  (It 
In  the 
an  hundn 
a  great  ji 
polished 
similar   < 
briek.     Tl 
siuface  tw 
truncated  ; 
admiration 
A  still  m 
try  is  to  be 
of  I'hnvers 
llian  a  mile 
a  natural  hi 
Mild  (lividec 
f  >iir  liundrc 
cumference. 
Kight  lea, 
b rated  pyra 
dition,  to  tl 
base  nearly 
dred  and  ei<: 
and  coverci 
structures  n 
western  j)ro' 
The  mini 
extremely  n 
existence  of 
Tezcuco  anc 
cent  bu'ldin 


AMi:iaCAN    ANTIQUITIKS. 


■io 


Ruininit  tlio  rites  of  their  s;ui;;uiiiary  worriliij).  The  colos- 
sal figures  of  the  sun  and  iiiooii,  covcri'il  with  phitcs  of 
goM,  the  hideous  stone  of  sa('iilie(>,  and  the  terribU;  sound 
of  thi!  gn^at  war-drum,  ai'o  mingled  with  strange  f'usei na- 
tion (jf  tlcseription  in  tiie  pages  of  the  early  ehroniclers. 

In  the  ei'y  of  Tezeueo,  wliieh  is  said  to  have  contained 
an  hundred  and  Ujrty  thousand  liouses,  are  the  remains  of 
a  great  j)yraniiil,  huilt  of  largt,;  masses  of  basalt,  fiin.ly 
p.)lished  and  euriously  sculptured  in  hieroglyphics.  Other 
similar  (^lifiees  in  the  neighliorhood  are  composed  of 
hi'iek.  'I'ho  enoruKJUS  structure  of  Cholula,  covering  a 
suil'aee  twice  larger  than  the  great  Egyptian  pyramid,  i)ut 
truncated  at  half  its  altitude,  still,  in  its  ruins,  excites  the 
admiration  of  travellers. 

A  still  more  i!.\traordinary  elfort  of  scmi-civili/.ed  indus- 
try is  to  be  found  in  the  celebrated  Xochicalco,  or  "House 
of  Mowers,"  situated  on  tli'  plain  of  Cuernavaca,  more 
than  a  mile  above  the  lev^'l  of  the  sea.  It  ap})ears  to  be 
a  natui'al  hill,  shaped  in  a  ])yramithii  f(;rtu  by  human  labor, 
and  divided  into  four  terraces.  Jt  is  between  three  ami 
loiii-  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  nearly  three  miles  in  cir- 
cumference. 

Might  h'agucs  from  the  city  of  Mexico  arc  the  two  cele- 
brated pyramids  of  Teotiliuacan,  sacred,  according  to  tra- 
dition, to  the  (leided  sun  and  moon.  'V\\o  larger  h;us  a 
base  nearly  seven  hundred  fecf  in  length,  and  is  an  hun- 
dred and  eighty  feet  in  height.  Tlu^y  are  fliced  with  stone, 
and  covered  with  a  durable  cement  These  pyramidal 
structures  mav  be  estimated  by  thoiusands  in  the  South- 
wesiern  ])rovinces  of  this  continent. 

The  ruins  of  ancient  cities,  in  the  same  region,  are 
extremely  numerous,  and  every  thing  evinces  the  former 
existence  of  a  swartning  and  industrious  population.  In 
Te/xjuco  and  its  vicinity  arc  the  remains  of  very  nxagnifi- 
ccnt  bu'ldings  and  aqueducts.     At  Mitlan,  in  the  district 


lil 


i     !i: 


Hi 

M 

.1 

i       1  ii 

■■, 

h,. 

■  '    ■  1 

i'l 

f 


rM 


1 


\\  1 


!fi 


14' 


\\\ 


^    '■ 


^ 


-ir> 


INKIAN    K  VfKS  t'K   AMKKh'A. 


of  Z:i|ii)(i\':(,  'X'ciir  spcriiiUMis  ol"  ;i|-cliilccl  ili'c  nl"  tlic  iiidst 
iuiposiii;';  fli;ir;u't('r.  Six  jxirpl! vi'v  foluimis,  r.i<-li  niiit*- 
ItVMi  ll'cl  ill  lici;',lit,  Mihl  >^l'  ;i  single  stoii(>,  dci-oi-Mlcd  llic 
inliM'ior  o{'  the  |iniiri|>:il  luiildiii;':.  I'".l;ilutr:i(i<  Mosiiic  work 
and  illiistrali  \  I'  p;iiiili!i";s  alioiiiul,  stroiiidv  rcscmMiii}^ 
somi>  ol'  tlii>  riassii'al  a    li(;uiti(>s. 

Tlu'  nuns  ol'  I'altMuiiu',  in  Cliiapa,  an>  ainoni;-  the  most 
rxtiMisivc  and  rcmai-kal'lt'.  lliTc  loi'iiu'riv  stood  a  j-.ft'at 
I'ity,  tlu'  I'lMuains  oi'  whit'h  can  lu-  traced,  it.  is  said,  over  a 
spact' six  or  S(>v»M)  lea":'.es  in  eii'cnnit'erenct\  Much  elab- 
orate seulptiir(\  exliiliit.ni,:  envious  liisttM-ical  i-tdiels,  is  dis- 
covered in  the  lorsaki-n  apartments  ot"  the  aneiiMit  pahiecs 
and  temple-;.  These  represent  linman  saerillees,  dane(\s. 
devtMion.  and  otlier  national  customs.  'I'h(>  riehlv-car\'ed 
ti^ure  ot"  a  cross  excites  surprise  and  sj)eetdation  the 
saint'  emhlem  havin;';  bciMi  discovered  (dseuduM'c,  as  well 
as  in   Northern  America. 

Many  surprising-  rem  .in^-,  IhmIi  of  erei-tion  and  excava- 
tion, are  to  be  lound  near  \'illa  Nueva,  in  tlu'  jU'ovine(>  ol' 
Zaeatecas.  A  rocky  mountain  has  been  cut  into  terraces, 
and  extensive  ruins  of  j\vramids,  caus(>\va\s,  (piadrani;ii- 
lar  enclosures,  and  massive  walls  an>  still  standin^j. 

At  Oopan,  in  lloiubiras,  amonu'  manv  other  riMnarkable 
works,  are  I'onnd  numerous  st(>ne  obelisks,  o['  littl(>  liciuiit, 
covered  witli  hierouivjiliieal  representations.  The  rcHcs 
of  a  fantastie  idolatry  are  fre(]nent.  "Monstrous  (i<:un\s 
are  I'ound  amouLrst  the  ruins;  c:ie  repn>sents  the  ('(^lossal 
liead  o['  an  alliLrator,  ]iavin<x  in  its  jaws  a  lip^ure  with  a 
human  faee,  but  tlie  paws  of  an  animal;  an^ither  iuonst(T 
lias  tlie  appearanee  oi'  a  ^iirantie  t(^ad  in  an  erect  j>os- 
ture,  with  liuman  arms  and  tiger's  claws."  At  the  time  of 
the  Spanish  eoiiquest.  Coj-^an  wa.^  still  a  large  and  popu- 
lous city.     It  is  now  utterly  deserted. 

The  extensive  ruins  oi^  Uxmal  or  Itzlan,  in  Yucatan, 
have  been,  ever  since  the  memory  of  man,  overgrown  with 


i 


nn  nrieicii 
enlirely  \ 
ill  reliel 
Ibrl  \-tlii'i'( 
cut.  upon 
are  si  ill  s 
it  is  snpp 

niatlie!ii;il  1 

disliiii'iiis 
Many  ol 
works  of  I 
Spaniards, 
I'lxteiisi  ve 
eiieiiiies;  j 
able  ro.'ids 
eiili<,dileiim 
attained. 

Sciilpliin 

tions  of  iht 

the   races   w 

Saei-iliee,    tli 

.  lol  Teoyaii 

ness   and   el 

iiiiaiie,  as  di 

solid  blo(;k  < 

idea  of  a.  d(> 

rible  in  the 

supplied  wit 

posed  of  wr 

ing  manner, 

vulture.     It: 

lies  the  IhnuI 

ing  from  the 

larL'-o   neckki 

skulls,  and 


AMKUICAN      ANlli^l  n  U.S. 


47 


rmtiif.   forrst,.      At,  llii,!   phirc  i.-i  .i   lar,"f  coiiit,,  tcivnl 


nn  nri 


•iiiii'i'ly  w.'tli  lli<^  li"iii( 


IkII.oISC 


;iil!llilllv    "•;ii\r( 


III    I'i'lli' 


Ins  ciirioii.-i   |);iv»'!iii'iil.     ciiiisist:-!  1)1    iiiMic   tli;iJi 


f.iil  \ -tlili'c  l.li()i|,s;iii(|  (>r  IIk'Sc  |(|i|ilr.;|   iimu'Ii   Uoiii,  llii)ii"li 


rill  ii|iiiii  v<'rv  li.'iril   sldiic,      A   l;ii;'c    |p\  i;iiiii'l  ;unl   li'iii|i,() 


\    I; 


ifi'  still   staiiuiii' 


ci iiitaiiiiiur   sitiiic   (■li'"aiit 


aliii-:;,    aiHl 


it,  is  sii|)|)i)S('il,  tlic  rc|)i'('Sfiitalii  111  of  ilic  rl('|)' am.  (ircaL 
luatliciiiatii'al  ari'iii'ar.v  aii<l  aillicsioii  to  tin;  caiiliiial  poiiitH 
distiii'.'iiisli  tlic  irlics  (if  this  city. 


M; 


iiV  other  (■xtraoniiiiaiv  ccinaiiis  iiiiinit,  In'  fitcil 


'I'll 


wo 


rks  of  tJic  Mexican  nation,  siieli  as  it,  was  ronnil  hv  t,li«i 
Sjiaiiianis,  were,  of  ;i  massive  ami  etiiliiriii;^  eliara<'ter. 
Ivxteiisive   walls,   (jesiinieil    I'oi-  a  derciKM-   a^'aiiist,    roreii/n 


eliriiiie 


ai";.',e.   iiiiblie  ;jranaiies   and   hatlis,   with   iMlniir- 

lad. 


alilo  roads  ami   a(ine<|iict,s,  (rviiiced  a  de;.M'ee,  ol    power  ai 


eiili'dit''iiiiient,  t.o  whieli  th(!  colored  races  liavi;  seldom 
attained. 

Senl|)tiirc  and  ela,l)ora1,(^  earvin;.^  wen;  favorite  oi'dijia- 
tioiis  ol'  the  Mexicans,  as  well  as  of  their  Corcialhers,  or 
the  nices  which  ]>reeedc(|  them.  'I'Ih;  Cainous  Stone  ni' 
Saci'itice,  i\\r  Calendar  of  Moiite/uma,  and  th(;  hideoii.s 
i  lol  'reoyanii(iiie,  all  slill  jircscrved,  attest,  the  irro1,es(|iH!- 
ness  and  elai)oral(;  iaiu-y  ol"  their  ilesi;/ns.  The  lattt'r 
iin;i!je,  as  desciil)c.|  l»y  a  traveller,  "is  he.wn  out  of"  oin; 
solid  hlock  of  basalt-,  iiiiK!  f"ect  ITiLdi.  It,s  on;lin(^s  Lnve  wi 
idea  of"  [[  deformed  human  IIliiii-c,  \initiii^^  all  thai  is  ter- 
rihlc  in  the  ti^(M'  ami    ratth^-snake.      Inst,<'ad  of  arms,  it,  is 

t)j)lied  with  two  lar;^!^  ser])c[its,  and  its  drapery  is  e()iri- 


su 


jM).scd  of   wreathed  snakes,  intci'wovcn  m  the  most  di.s;/ust- 
iiiir  nKUUUT,  and  th(;  sides  termimitir'''  in  the  wii 


lil!^  oi     iX 


vulture.  Jts  feet  fire  tliosc  of  a  ti.^c^r,  and  Ix.'twecMi  them 
lies  tlic  iiead  of  another  rattlc-snak(>,  wdiich  seems  desc(;tid- 
ing  from  the  body  of  the  idol.  l'"or  decorations,  it  has  a 
larLH?  ne(;klaeo  composed  ol"  human  hearts,  h;tnd.s  and 
bkuUs,  and  it   has  evidently  Ix-eii   painted   originally  in 


I ' 


% 


jA 


"iy>^ 


,111 


i 


\'i 


'! 


■'I 


i ' 


\'u 


I  (ii 


1,1' 


' . 


48 


INDIAN  11  ACES  OF  AMERICA. 


iiatunil  colors."  Otlicr  figures  of  tlic  dcilieJ  rattle-snake 
Lave  b'^^u  discovered. 

Great  skill  existed  in  the  art  of  jiottcry,  and  many  ves- 
sels of  e.\t|uisite  design  and  finish  have  been  disinterred. 

The  hieroglyphieal  ])aintings  and  manuscripts  of  the 
Mexicans  \v(n'c,  with  few  exce])tions,  desti'oyed  by  their 
fanatical  conquerors.  Some  clioice  specimens,  however, 
still  exist;  principally  exhibiting  the  migrations  of  the 
A/tccs,  their  wars  their  religious  ceremonies,  and  the 
genealogy  of  their  sovereigns.  Almanacs  and  other  cal- 
endars of  an  astronomical  nature  have  been  preserved. 
'I'he  material  of  the  manuscrij^t  consists  of  the  skins  of 
animals,  or  of  a  kind  of  vegetable  j^aper,  formed  in  a  man- 
ner similar  to  the  P]gyptian  ])a])yrus. 

Oi  the  numerous  cities  and  temples,  who.sc  rcmainsiare 
so  abundant,  many  were,  doubtless,  erected  by  the  Aztec 
people,  whom  Cortcz  found  so  numerous  and  flourishing, 
or  by  their  immediate  ancestors.  Others  were,  probably, 
constructed  at  a  remote  age,  and  by  a  people  who  had  at  an 
early  period  migrated  to  these  regions.  A  certain  resem- 
blance, however,  appears  to  pervade  theni  all.  The  j)re- 
sence  of  enormous  [lyramids  a:  d  quadrangles,  the  peculiar 
constriiction  of  causeways  and  aqueducts,  and  the  great 
similarity  in  mythological  rcj^rcsentation,  aj)pear  to  indi- 
cate tliat  their  founders  were  originally  of  a  common  stock, 
and  all  of  certain  national  prepossessions. 


At  the 

Noi'thern  c 

half-sav^ag(^ 

country.    8 

however,   V( 

Peruvian   li 

powerful  .so 

trict,  Ivinii:  j 

miles.     Otlic 

we  are  igno 

power  and  ii 

^J'he  antiq 

the  Northeri 

origin  in  thei 

some  of  then 

relics  of  the  ( 

bodies  intcrr 

Kinbalming  1 

in  many  inst? 

precaution,  hr 

tants.     Caver 

as  cemeteries 

were  found,  I 

C'ts.     Stone  t( 

also  boon  disi 

In  these  m( 

of  ancient  inij 

site  carvings 


hW, 


AMERICAN     ANTIQUITIES.  49 

CIIAPTEU  III. 

ANTIQCITIES    UK    SOUTH    AMEUICA. 

41*     *     *     \v,.  are  b;it  wliero.  \vp  were, 
Slill  wandering  in  a  City  of  tho  Dead!'' 

ROGI-RS. 

At  tlic  Spanish  discovery,  South  America,  like  the 
Northern  continent,  was,  in  a  grreat  portion,  peopled  hy 
half-sava.tro  tribes,  rescrnblinf^  the  Indians  of  our  own 
countrv.  Some  powerful  and  partially-civilized  kingdoms, 
h(nvever,  vet  survivcMl,  and  of  these,  the  empire  of  the 
Peruvian  Incas  was  the  first.  Under  the  sway  of  llu.'se 
jiowei'ful  sovereigns  was  comprehended  an  extensive  dis- 
trict, lying  along  the  Painfic  co;ist  for  many  hund'-eds  of 
miles.  Other  nations,  in  their  vicinity,  of  whoso  history 
we  are  ignorant,  also  possessed  a  considerable  share  of 
power  and  independent  government. 

The  antiquities  of  these  regions,  so  similar  to  those  of 
the  Northern  continent,  aj)pear  to  j)rove  a  similarity  of 
origin  in  their  founders.  Very  numerous  mounds  occur, 
.':()!iie  of  them  two  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  containing 
relics  of  the  dead.  Urns  of  fine  construction,  and  human 
bodies  interred  in  a  sitting  posture  have  been  excavated. 
Embalming  has  evidently  been  extensively  practised,  and 
in  many  instances  the  arid  nature  of  the  soil,  without  this 
precaution,  has  preserved  the  bodies  of  its  ancient  inhabit- 
tatits.  Caverns  appear  to  have  been  frequently  adoj)tcd 
as  cemeteries.  In  one  of  these,  six  hundred  skeletons 
were  found,  bent  double,  and  regularly  arranged  in  bask- 
ets. Stone  tombs,  of  a  very  massive  construction,  have 
also  b('(^n  disinhumed. 

In  tlu^se  mounds  and  graves  are  found  a  great  variety 
of  ancient  im{)lements,  of  gold,  copper,  and  stone.  Kxqui- 
<iite  carvings  >\  stone,  and  jewels  evincing  great  skill  in 
4     " 


J 


■II 


i !!  <a 


\f 


•if 


■ii  "\  i 


iV 


/Jk 


i^y^'*^ 


'Ml 


11 

'  iki    ■" 


m 


i'\ 


M 
U 


1 1 1 

i 

11 


I   ;> 


50 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


the  laj)i(lary,  luivc  been  discovered.  The  idols  of  gold 
aii<l  (!0])per  nre  often  of  singular  construction,  Lcing  formed 
of  thin  plates  of  metal  hannnered  into  their  res])cctive 
shapes,  without  u  single  seam.  Stone  mirrors  and  vases 
of  mar])le,  weapons,  domestic  utensils,  cotton  cloth  of  line 
texture,  and  the  im])lemcnts  of  ancient  mining,  have  also 
been  frequently  brought  to  light. 

The  system  of  ancient  agriculture  and  of  artificial  irri- 
gation appears  to  have  been  extremely  ingenious,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  climate,  reminding 
us  strongly  of  the  Chinese  industry  in  etTecting  similar 
oljjects.  The  steepest  mountains  were  laid  out  in  terraces, 
und  aqueducts  of  the  most  solid  and  durable  construction 
conveyed  water  for  domestic  uses  and  the  fertilization  of 
land.  ]n  some  instimcos,  the  pipes  of  these  aqueducts  were 
of  gold — a  circumstance  which  excited  the  cu})idity  of  the 
Spaniards,  and  contributed  to  their  destruction. 

The  public  roads  and  causeways  laid  out  by  this  ancient 
people,  may  justly  compete  with  the  most  celebrated  works 
of  the  same  kind  in  the  old  world.  Their  Cyclopean  arc-hi- 
tecture,  and  the  ingenuity  with  which  the  greatest  natural 
diiriculties  have  been  overcome,  excite  the  admiration  of 
travellers  and  'nquirers.  "  We  were  su.  j)rised,"  says  Hum- 
boldt, "to  find  at  this  place  (Assuay),  and  at  heights  which 
grt'atly  surpass  the  to])  of  the  Peak  of  '^J'enerilfe,  the  niag- 
nilicent  remains  of  a  road  constructed  by  the  Incas  of 
I'cni.  Tills  causeway,  lined  with  freestone,  may  be  com- 
{)arod  to  the  finest  Koman  roads  I  have  seen,  in  Italy. 
b'rancG  or  Spain.  It  is  perfectly  straight,  and  keeps  the 
same  direction  for  six  or  eight  thousand  metres.  "We 
observed  the  continuation  of  this  road  near  Caxamarca, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues  to  the  south  of  Assuav, 
and  it  is  believed,  in  the  country,  that  it  led  as  far  as  the 
city  of  Cuzco."  Wlien  complete,  it  extended  from  Cuzco 
to  Quito,  a  distance  of  five  hundred  leagues. 


z±J 


m 


a 


"One 

near  the  f 

rior.     All 

of  the  ro; 

cut  away 

to  one  hi 

was  first 

Hiight  easi 

a  less  dilli 

it  was   cai 

trouble  of 

a  higli  em 

inc  run 

and  all  be, 

tered  throt 

ancient  cit' 

Incas,  the 

massive  eh, 

turcs  at  Ba 

doorways,  c 

on  masses  c 

lers  with  as- 

are  many  re: 

built  of  ston 

angles,  fitted 

be  seen.     Or 

extensive  rui 

of  su(!h  enor; 

entire  side  of 

seven  in  nur 

or  palace.     M 

discovered.    I 

composed  of  i 

*  Brad 


\i 


AMERICAN     ANTIQUITIES. 


51 


"One  of  these  great  roads  passed  through  the  jjlaina 
near  tlie  sea,  and  the  other  over  the  mountains  in  tlie  inte- 
rior. Angustin  do  Carate  says  that  for  the  construction 
of  the  road  over  the  mountains,  they  were  compelled  to 
out  away  rocks,  and  to  lill  up  chasms,  often  from  ninety 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  deep,  and  tha''  when  it 
was  first  made,  it  was  so  plain  and  level,  that  a  carriage 
might  easily  pass  over  it;  and  of  the  other,  which  pursued 
a  less  dillicult  route,  that  it  was  forty  feet  wide,  and  as 
it  was  carried  through  valleys,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
trouble  of  rising  and  descending,  it  was  constructed  upon 
a  high  embankment  of  earth."* 

The  ruins  of  many  edifices,  all  of  massive  construction, 
and  all  bearing  the  marks  of  similarity  of  origin,  are  scat- 
tered throughout  a  great  expanse  of  country.  In  the 
ancient  city  of  Tialmanaco,  built  before  the  days  of  the 
Incas,  the  architecture  a})pears  to  have  been  of  the  most 
massive  character,  reminding  us  of  the  Cycloj>ean  struc- 
tures at  Baalbec  and  A[ycena2.  Immense  porclies  and 
doonvays,  each  formed  of  a  single  stone,  and  supported 
on  masses  of  similar  magnitude,  struck  the  early  travel- 
lers with  astonishment.  In  Cuzco,  the  city  of  the  Incas, 
are  many  remains  of  a  singular  character.  The  walls  are 
built  of  stones  of  great  dimensions,  and,  though  of  many 
angles,  fitted  so  accurately  that  the  interstices  can  scarcely 
be  seen.  On  a  round  mountain  near  Caxamarea,  are  the 
extensive  ruins  of  a  city,  built  in  terraces,  and  constructed 
of  such  enormous  stones,  that  a  single  slab  often  forms  the 
entire  side  of  an  apartment.  Above  these  circular  terraces, 
seven  in  number,  appear  the  remains  of  a  great  fortress 
or  j)alace.  ^[any  cities  of  a  similar  construction  have  been 
discovered.  In  some  instances,  pointed  or  bell-shaped  roofs, 
composed  of  stones  laid  in  cement,  have  been  remarked. 

*  Bradford's  Origi:i  aiul  lILstory  of  tiic  Red  Race. 


!ii 


U'j^ 


i^/i/*^ 


!•■ 


1  'i 


! 


52 


IN'IHAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Some  of  the  ruins  are  constructed  of  uubunit  brick,  exceed' 
ingly  hardened  by  tlie  sun. 

Many  scvilnture,'^,  evincing  great  skill  and  dehcacy,  still 
exist.  These  are  the  more  remarkable  wlien  it  is  consid- 
ered that  the  chief  instruments  of  the  ancient  inhabitants 
were,  probably,  for  the  most  part,  composed  only  of  hard 
ened  coj)per.  Of  this  material,  their  weapons,  often  of 
exquisite  manufacture,  were  composed.  Far  to  the  north- 
ward, beyond  the  dominion  of  the  Ineas,  inscriptions  and 
figures  may  be  found  sculptured  on  the  rocks.  "On  the 
banks  of  the  Orinoco  and  in  various  parts  of  Guiana,  there 
are  rude  figures  traced  upon  granite  and  other  hard  stones, 
some  of  them,  like  those  in  the  United  States,  cut  at  an 
immense  height  upon  the  face  of  perpendicular  rocks. 
They  represent  the  sun  and  moon,  tigers,  crocodiles  and 
snakes,  and  occasionally  they  appear  to  be  hieroglyphical 
figures  and  regular  characters." 

The  surprising  number  of  these  ruins  and  relies,  and 
the  great  space  over  which  they  extend,  indicate  the  exist- 
ence, for  many  ages,  of  a  people  possessing  all  the  power 
which  regular  government,  settled  institutions,  and  national 
character  can  give.  "In  examining,"  says  Mr.  Bradford, 
"the  line  of  civilization,  as  indicated  at  present  by  these 
ancient  remains,  which  is  found  to  commence  on  the  plains 
of  Varinas,  and  to  extend  thence  to  the  ruins  of  the  stone 
edifices,  which  were  observed  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  oa  the  road  ovc.  the  Andes,  in  the  province  of 
Cujo,  in  Chili,  or  to  the  road  described  by  the  Jci^uit 
Imonsff,  or  to  the  ancient  aqueducts  upon  the  banks  of 
the  river  Maypocho,  in  south  latitude  thirty-three  degrees, 
sixteen  minutes;  we  are  surprised  to  discover  a  continuous, 
unbroken  chain  of  these  relics  of  aboriginal  civilization. 
Reverting  to  the  epoch  of  their  construction,  we  are  pre- 
sented with  the  astonishing  spectacle  of  a  great  race  cul- 
tivating the  earth,  and  possessing  many  of  the  arts  diCfased 


(r 


at  an  ea: 

thousand 

discovery 

ulous  tril 

subsistcnc 

systems  o 

crnment. 

ereignties 

still,  whet' 

ish  invad( 

the  ancicii 

their  man: 

the  genera 

monument 

':ly  of  the  ; 


III.; 


AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


53 


at  iin  early  jicriod  through  an  immense  territory,  three 
thousand  miles  in  extent.  Even  up  to  the  time  of  the 
discovery,  most  of  this  viust  region  was  occupied  by  pop- 
ulous tribes,  who  were  dependent  upon  agriculture  for 
subsistence,  were  clothed,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  regular 
Bystems  of  religion,  and  their  own  peculiar  forms  of  gov- 
ernment. From  conquest,  and  various  causes,  some  sov- 
ereignties 'lad  increased  more  rapidly  than  others;  but 
still,  whether  we  are  guided  by  the  testimony  of  the  Span- 
ish invaders,  or  by  the  internal  evidence  yet  existent  in 
the  ancient  ruins,  it  is  impossible  not  to  trace,  alike  in 
their  manners,  customs,  and  physical  appearance,  and  in 
the  general  similitude  observable  in  the  character  of  their 
moiminents,  that  they  were  all  members  of  the  same  fam- 
ily of  the  human  race,  and  probably  of  identical  origin." 


'^1l 


I) 


'-'  t 

• 

1 

■       :t 

;' 

i 

1                   ■  . 
1 

J« 


>J,t.^ 


'ill 


!<■ 


i'! 


», 


ti 


l;> 


I. 


•ii 


r 


TIIK  ABOUIlilNES  OF  MEXICO. 


ClIAPTKIl  I. 

GENERAL  REMAUKS — EXPKDITK>\  OF  GUIJALVA 

IIEllNANUO   COItTEZ. 

"♦  *  •  The  Race  of  Yore; 

How  are  tlic-y  blotted  from  the  tilings  tli.it  hel" 

SlX)TT. 

TiiR  kingdoms  of  New  Spain,  as  Central  America  and 
tlie  adjoining  country  were  first  called,  presented  a  i'ar  dif- 
ferent aspect,  when  first  discovered  by  Europeans,  from 
that  of  the  vast  and  inhosj)itable  wilderness  at  the  North 
and  East.'  Instead  of  an  unbroken  forest,  thinly  inhabited 
by  roving  savages,  here  were  seen  large  and  well-built 
cities,  a  people  of  gentler  mood  and  more  refined  manners, 
and  an  advancement  in  the  useful  arts  which  removed  the 
inhabitants  as  far  from  their  rude  neighljors,  in  the  scale 
of  civilization,  as  they  themselves  were  excelled  by  the 
nations  of  Eurojw. 

When  first  discovered  and  explored  by  Europeans,  Mex- 
ico was  a  kingdom  of  great  extent  and  power.  Monte- 
zuma, chronicled  as  the  eleventh,  in  regular  succession,  of 
the  Aztec  monarchs,  held  supreme  authority.  His  domin- 
ions extended  from  near  the  isthmus  of  Daricn,  to  the 
undefined  country  of  the  Ottomies  and  Chichiinecas,  rudo 
nations  living  in  a  barbarous  state  among  the  mountains 
of  the  North.  His  name  signified  "the  surly  (or  grave) 
Prince,"  a  title  justified  by  the  solemn  and  cercmouioua 
homage  which  he  constantly  exacted. 


HKh 


> 


f^ 


//  y  j;  .V  I  .V  i>  (I 


H  r  /■:  / . 


,\    .ir.lUlNAI.    rilKlRAIT    HY    TiriA.1. 


.^''•i' 

..^J^^ 


Wl.on 

iiatunil  t( 
iriliiiitcly 

tllC    Illilgit 

\\';ifiiiii<rs 

.sioiicil  fh 

as   we   sli 

Cori.jts,  c 

visions,  w 

council,  a 

wisest  cou 

Tlie  iiat 

icans  pres 

witnessed 

abstract  ici 

and  social 

pare  flivon 

ili/ed  natii 

human  sac 

and  accoin 

ajid   caniiil 

disgraced  tl 

A  vast  an 

in  cflbrts  to 

causes  wliic 

civilization 

Analogies, .« 

that  they  in 

the  first  dis( 

religious  ex 

itaiits  of  Cei 

tiie  Old  Wo: 

ive  difi'erenc 

the  "Western 

sufficiently  t 


AHDUKUNKS  OF  MKXICO. 


)U 


Wlion  tlio  Spaniards  first  aj)j)oaro(l  on  Uio  coast,  tin? 
tiiifural  terror  excited  ])y  such  iinlicard-ol'  conquerors  was 
iiitiiiitcly  heightened  by  divers  portents  and  omens,  which 
the  ina;/icians  and  nrei-oinaiicers  of  tlie  tcing  constru<'(l  ;is 
warnin,<:'s  of  great  and  disastrous  revohitions.  This  oeea- 
sioned  that  strange,  weak,  and  vacillating  policy,  which, 
as  wc  shall  hereafter  see,  he  ad()i)ted  towards  T'orte/. 
Con.  !ts,  conflagrations,  overllovvs,  monsters,  dniums,  and 
visions,  were  constantly  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  royal 
council,  and  inferences  were  drawn  therefrom  as  to  the 
wisest  course  to  be  pursued. 

The  national  character,  religion  and  customs  of  the  Mex- 
icans presented  stranger  anomalies  than  have  ever  been 
witnessed  in  any  nation  on  the  earth.  They  entertained 
abstract  ideas  of  right  and  wrong,  with  systems  of  ethics 
and  social  proprieties,  which,  Ibr  truth  and  ])urity,  com- 
pare favorably  w'th  the  most  enlightened  doctrines  of  civ- 
ilized nations,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  custom  of 
human  sacrifice  was  carried  to  a  scarcely  credible  extent, 
and  accompanied  by  circumstances  of  cruelty,  filthincss 
ami  caiuiibalism,  more  loathsome  than  ever  elsewhere 
disgraced  tlic  most  barbarous  of  nations. 

A  vast  amount  of  labor  and  research  has  been  expended 
in  efforts  to  arrive  at  some  satisfactory  conclusion  as  to  the 
causes  which  led  to  the  Mexican  superiority  in  the  arts  of 
civilization  over  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  New  World. 
Analogies,  so  strong  as  to  leave  little  doubt  upon  the  mind 
that  they  must  be  more  than  coincidences,  were  found,  on 
tlie  first  discovery  of  the  country,  between  the  traditions, 
religious  exercises,  scul})ture,  and  language  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  Central  America,  and  those  of  various  nations  in 
tiie  Old  World.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  great  distincit- 
ivo  (lifi'erence  in  the  bodily  conformation  of  all  natives  of 
the  Western  Continent,  from  the  ])eople  of  the  Kast,  jtroves 
siifriciently  that,  previous  to  the  Spanish  discoveries,  the 


A 


H '  i 


PHtii'j'rH^ 


I  tjL 


'ir^ii 


i.  ^ 

n 

■  il 

^-    i' 

:  .  .1  t  ; 

1 

i 

i'^^ 


f>(; 


iii:i^  i  H 


•  i 


INDIAN    HACKS   OF    AMKIUCA. 


t'lMii'  ol:ij)se(l  since  any  diroct  coiiiinmiii'iitioii  could  luive 
oxistrd  l)C'l\vccii  tlie  two,  must  have  Ixvn  very  grciit.  'I'lio 
obvious  aiilifiuity  of  the  aiTliitcctural  rcuiaius  carrii's  u.s 
hack  to  a  Miust  ii'uiith!  era:  s>)iiio  luaiut.iiii  that,  poitiuns 
of  ihf.-i'  must  have  Ik'cu  staudiu;^  lor  as  many  (•fiiturirs 
as  iIh"  _L;ri'at  jiyraniids  of  Mj^ypt,  wliiKj  otlici's  v>'[\-v  them  to 
a  nuK'h  hitcr  ori^nn.  'I'hc  j)crnifious  liahit  of  llrsl  adopllu'^ 
a  theory,  and  then  soarchin<^^  lor  such  facts  only  as  tend  to 
su[t]ioit  it,  was  never  inon'  ft^nubly  exeniplified  than  in  iIk; 
variant  hyjiothescs  as  to  the  oriciu  of  Mexican  civilization. 

'i'lu!  valley  and  (Vjuntry  ol'  Auahua(!,  or  Mexico,  was 
successively  j)coj)led,  ace.ordin.ti;  to  tradition  and  the  e\i- 
deuce  of  ancient  hiero;i;ly|)hies,  hy  the  Toltecs,  the  Chi- 
chimccas,  and  the  Nahuatlacas,  ol  whidi  hist-inentioneil 
]>eoj)le,  the  A/tecs,  "who  finally  ohtaiiieil  the  ascendaiiey, 
ibrine(]  the  jjrincipal  tribe.  'J'hese  inimi,L:rations  were  from 
som(!  indeterminate  re.i^ion  at  the  north,  and  ap]iear  to 
have  been  the  result  of  a  frradnal  lu-o^u^'cssion  southward, 
as  traces  of  the  pccidiar  architectural  structures  of  the; 
Mexican  nations  are  to  be  found  stretchin'^r  throusdiout  the 
countiy  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  sea,  as  far 
north  as  the  Gila  and  Colorado. 

The  ]iei'iods  of  these  sevi'ral  arrivals  in  Anahuac  are 
set  down  as  follows.  ^Fhat  of  the  Toltecs.  about  the  mid- 
dle of  tlic  seventh  century,  and  of  the  rude  Chichim(-c;is_ 
thi^  yc;ir  1070.  Tht!  Nahuatlacas  cotnmcnced  their  mi.iiTa- 
tions  about  1170,  and  the  A/.tecs,  separatin;r  themselves 
from  tilt?  rest  of  the  nation,  f(junded  the  ancient  city  of 
Mexico  in  the  year  1325. 

Th(>  tale  of  cruelties,  opprcssior.<?,  and  wholes.ale  destruc- 
tion attemhuit  u]ion  the  Sjxani.h  iir'asion  and  concpiest, 
is  a  louL''  one,  and  can  be  here  bui  briefly  cf)itomized;  but 
enouLdi  will  he  given  to  leave,  as  fiir  as  jiracticable,  a  just 
iinj)r<>ssion  of  the  real  condition  of  these  primitive  nations, 
and  the  more  marked  oiitlines  of  their  historv. 


I 


\ 


T 

^  m 

i 

j 

1 

I 
1 

.i 

i 

m 

MOJVTEZ  VMA. 


%M^^ 


jl  -  li- 


Wi: 


•■  i«  '■!, 


;.'!  li 


!  I'i* ; 


'         III  tlio 
filioni  of  i 
by  S|  Kill  is 
liy  tlic  ()!•( 
and  .silver 

to   tlll^    '^VOl 

dilioii  and 

l»y  llicsc  ca 

ity  reslruii: 

<>i"  liiiiiUicih 

as  iiK'liiiod 

tlic  iiativos 

sli« iwcd  hii 

wliicli  lie  /■( 

conti'ihntio 

j        Tlio  mill 

i   and  inflaiiu 

great  coiiiil; 

were  Jaid  t( 

tliMse  regiol 

j   and  pettjat 

Dieiro  Vii 

I)ieL;o  Colon 

an  exj)cditi( 

Vueatan  and 

After  rcvcn^ 

of  Vueatan, 

riv(>r  of  7\)1) 

was  carrie(|  < 

with  wond(!r 

tlio  Mvn  and 

willioiit  ^foti 

tlie  Aston  is]  1 

tli-ni." 

'''!io  usual 


7kM 

k1 


AlJOKIfilNKS  OF  MKXICO. 


57 


In  tlio  cai'ly  part  of  the  si.\t(M'iitli  ('ciitiirv,  tlic  eastern 
shore  el"  Mexico  and  Central  America  had  been  (•\j»h)red 
bv  Sjianish  navi;^at()rs;  and  Vascv;  Nu;j;n('/  (h;  r>aIlM)a,  h'd 
by  the  ordinary  attraction  —talcs  of  a  country  rich  in  ^^)ld 
and  silver— had,  in  Sc|)tcnd)cr,  lol;!,  crossed  the  istlnnu.s 
to  the  L^rcat  and  unknown  occ m  ol'  the  West.  The  con- 
diiiou  ami  v'haractt!!' ()('  the  natives  was  but  little  noliccil 
b\'  tlii'se  early  e.\jiloi'''rs,  and  no  nioti\cs  of  |)oli<'y  or  human- 
ity restrained  them  IVoni  treatinu'  those  thev  met  as  caprice; 
or  fanaticism  nii;4'ht  dictate.  JKilboa  is  indeed  spoken  of 
as  inclined  to  more  humane  courses  in  his  interc(;ursc  with 
the  natives  than  many  of  his  contemporaries,  but  even  he 
showed  himself  by  no  means  scrupulous  in  the  means  by 
whieh  he  forcetl  his  way  throuj^ii  the  countiy,  and  levied 
contributions  u])ou  the  native;  i;hiefs. 

The  mind  of  tin;  Spanish  nation  was  at  last  aroused 
auil  inflamed  by  accounts  of  the  wealth  and  power  of  the 
^M'cat  comitry  opeui  to  adventure;  in  New  Spain,  and  plan.s 
W(M\;  laid  to  nn(l(;rtakc  some  more  notable  possession  in 
those  regions  than  had  yet  resulted  from  the  unsuccessful 
and  l>etty  attempts  at  colonization  upon  the  coast. 

Dieiro  Valas({uez,  fi^overnor  of  Cuba,  as  licMitcinant  to 
Diei^o  Colon,  son  and  successor  of  the;  j^Tcat  admiral,  sent 
ari  cx]>i;dition,  under  command  of  Juan  do  Grijalva,  to 
Yucatan  and  the  adjoininir  coast,  in  A))ril  of  the  year  lolS. 
After  rcivcng'ing  former  injuries  received  from  tli<;  natives 
of  Yucatan,  the  l>;irty  sailed  westward,  and  entered  the 
river  of  Tobusco,  where  some  intercourse;  and  ])e'tty  trallic 
was  carrieel  on  with  the  luelians.  The;  natives  were  tilled 
with  we)nde;r  at  the  "Afake  of  thcShi})s,  anel  din'enme'e  of 
the  Men  anel  Habits,"  or.  their  first  appearance,  anel  "stejoel 
without  Me)tie)n,  as  elejirived  of  the  use  e)f  their  Hands  by 
the'  Aste)nishmcnt  under  Avliich  their  Eyes  had  brought 
llrm." 

The  usual  propositions  were  made  by  the  Spanish  com- 


n 


f 


i  ' 


li' 


"I- 


:i^>^ 


I 


I 


if 

1 


■ 


'I 


liit 


|(< 


'  i 


*: 

1  =;l!i 


5' 


b  :|i: 


!!i 


58 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


mamler,  of  submission  to  tlie  great  and  mighty  Prince  of 
the  I'^ast,  who?  subject  he  professed  to  be;  but  "they  hearo 
his  })roj)()sitiou  vith  the  marks  of  a  disagreeable  attention," 
and,  not  unnaturally,  made  answer  that  the  proposal  tc* 
form  a  peace  which  slunild  entail  servitude  upon  them  was 
strange  indeed,  adding  that  it  would  be  well  to  inquire 
whether  their  })resciit  king  was  a  ruler  whom  they  loved 
before  projiosing  a  new  one. 

Still  ])ursuing  a  westerly  course  along  the  coast,  Gi'i- 
jalva  gained  the  first  intelligence  received  by  the  Span- 
iards of  the  Emperor  Montezuma.  At  a  small  island 
were  found  the  first  bloody  tokens  of  the  barbarous  reli- 
gious rites  of  the  natives.  In  a  "House  of  Lime  and 
Stone"  were  "several  Llols  of  a  horrible  Figure,  and  a 
more  horrible  worship  paid  to  them;  for,  near  the  Steps 
where  they  were  placeil,  were  the  carkasses  of  six  or 
seven  men,  newly  sacrificed,  cut  to  pieces,  and  their 
Entrails  laid  open." 

lleaching  a  low  sandy  isle,  still  farther  to  the  westward, 
on  the  day  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  the  Spaniards  named 
the  place  San  Juan,  and  from  their  coupling  with  this 
title  a  word  cauirht  from  an  Indian  seen  there,  resulted 
the  name  of  San  Juan  do  Ulloa,  bestowed  ujion  the  site 
of  the  present  great  f  )rtress.  No  settlement  was  attempted, 
and  Grijalva  returned  to  Cuba,  carrying  with  him  many 
samples  of  native  ingonuity,  and  of  the  wealth  of  the 
countiy,  in  the  shape  of  rude  figures  of  lizards,  birds,  and 
other  trifles,  wrought  in  gold  imperfectly  refined. 

I^he  Cuban  governor,  Velasquez,  determined  to  pursue 
discoveries  and  conquest  at  the  west,  and  a|){iointed  Her- 
nando Cortez,  a  Spanish  cavalier,  resident  upon  the  island, 
to  command  the  new  exjiedition.  That  the  reach^r  may 
judge  what  strange  contradictions  may  exist  in  the  char- 
actor  of  the  same  individual ;  how  generosity  and  cujud- 
ity;  mildness  and  fei'ocity;  cruelty  and  kindness,  may  bo 


I 


combined, 
brated  her 
"Cortez 
nance;  aiK 
he  was  of 
for  he  ahvi 
and  discre 
such  that  h 
suilerM  by 
In  the  w 

A< 
E. 
T' 
Ci 

Ai 

Hidalgos  i 
the  fortunes 
was  to  be  se^ 
ing  lands  to 
mail,  making 

From  St.  . 
em  coast,  wl 
number  of 
Havana.  Fi 
weigh  on  th 
brigantine  an 
are  thus  enu 
sixteen  Hors( 
an  hundred 
Licentiate  Jn 
a  Regular  of 
missile  weajK 
falconets,  ;ind 


AilOUIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


59 


combined,  lot  liiin  compare  the  after  coiuliict  of  tliis  cele- 
brated hero  with  his  character  as  sketched  by  the  historian. 

"Cortcz  was  well  made,  and  of  an  agreeable  counte- 
nance; and,  besides  those  common  natural  Endowments, 
be  was  of  a  temper  "which  rendered  him  very  amiable; 
for  he  always  spoke  well  of  the  absent,  and  was  pleasant 
and  discreet  in  his  Conversation,  llis  Generosity  was 
such  that  his  Friends  partook  of  all  he  had,  without  being 
suHcr'd  by  him  to  publish  their  Obligations." 

In  the  words  of  the  poet,  he 

"*  *  *  Was  one  in  whom 

Adventure,  and  endurance,  and  emprisu 
Exalted  the  mind's  faculties,  and  strung 
Tiie  body's  sinews.     Brave  he  was  in  fight, 
Courteous  in  hatniuet,  scornful  of  repose, 
And  bountiful,  and  cruel,  and  devout." 

Hidalgos  of  family  and  wealth  crowded  eagerly  to  join 
the  fortunes  of  the  bold  and  po[)ular  leader.  "Nothing 
was  to  be  seen  or  s})oken  of,"  says  Bernal  Diaz,  "but  sell- 
ing lands  to  purchase  arms  and  horses,  quilting  coats  of 
mail,  making  bread,  and  salting  j^ork  for  sea  store." 

From  St.  Jago  the  fleet  sailed  to  Trinidad  on  the  south- 
ern coast,  where  the  force  was  increased  by  a  considerable 
number  of  men,  and  thence  round  Cape  Antonio  to 
Havana.  From  the  latter  port  the  flotilla  ,^"ot  under 
weigh  on  the  10th  of  February,  lol9.  It  con.usled  of  a 
brigantine  and  ten  other  small  vessels,  whose  motley  crews 
are  thus  enumerated:  "five  hundred  and  eight  Soldiers, 
sixteen  Horse;  and  of  Mechanics,  Pilots,  and  Marriners, 
an  hundred  and  nine  more,  besides  two  Chaplains,  the 
Licentiate  Juan  Diaz,  and  Father  Bartholomew  De  Olmoilo, 
a  Regular  of  the  Order  of  our  Lady  de  la  Merced."  The 
missile  weapons  of  the  jxirty  were  muskets,  cross-bows, 
falconets,  and  ten  small  held  pieces  of  brass.     The  color, 


>^>ia 


'I     [ 


■'I 


\ri 


S  m 


m 


\i\ 


,^!| 


(i;, 


iM 


'J 


« 


;  ' 


t'l: 


Si? 


.'-i! 


• 


«J 


^f 


i|^^ 


i; 

n  I' 
I'' 


^i 


w% 


60 


INDIAN   liACES   OF   AMElliCA. 


quality,  and  condition  of  each  of  the  horses  is  described 
with  great  particuhirity. 

The  iirst  hind  made  was  the  ishaid  of  Cozuinel,  off  the 
coast  of  Yucatan.  One  of  the  vessels  reached  the  island 
two  (lays  before  the  rest;  and  finding  the  habitations  of  the 
natives  abandoned,  the  Spaniards  ranged  the  country,  and 
plundered  their  huts  and  temple,  carrying  olf  divers  small 
gold  images,  together  with  clothes  and  provisions. 

Cortez,  on  his  arrival,  strongly  reprehended  these  pro- 
ceedings, .and,  liberating  three  Indians  who  liad  been 
taken  prisoners,  sent  them  to  seek  out  their  friends,  and 
explain  to  them  his  friendly  intentions.  Their  confidence 
was  perfectly  restored  by  this  act,  and  by  the  restoration 
of  the  stolen  property;  so  t'nat  the  next  day,  the  chief 
came  with  his  people  to  the  camp,  and  mingled  with  the 
Spaniards  on  the  most  friendly  terms. 

No  farther  violence  was  olfered  to  them  or  their  prop- 
ert}'  during  the  stay  of  the  Spaniards,  except  that  these 
zealous  reformers  seized  the  idols  in  the  tem})le,  and  roll- 
ing them  down  the  steps,  bailt  an  altar,  and  placed  an 
image  of  the  Virgin  upon  it,  erecting  a  wooden  crucifix 
herd  by.  The  holy  father,  Juan  Diaz,  then  said  Mass,  to 
the  great  edification  of  the  wondering  natives. 

This  temple  was  a  well-built  edifice  of  stone,  and  con- 
tained a  hideous  idol  in  somewhat  of  the  human  form. 
"All  the  Idols,"  says  de  Solis,  "worsliipped  by  these  mis- 
cralile  iVH)})le,  were  formed  in  the  same  Manr  ^;  for  tho' 
they  dilfered  in  the  Make  and  Representation,  they  were 
all  alike  most  abominably  ugly;  whether  it  was  that  these 
Barbarians  had  no  Notion  of  any  other  Model,  or  that  the 
Devil  really  ajipeared  to  them  in  some  such  Shape;  so 
that  he  who  struck  out  the  most  hideous  figure,  Wiis 
accounted  the  best  work  man." 

Seeing  that  no  prodigy  succeeded  the  destruction  of 
their  gods,  the  savages  were  the  more  ready  to  pay  attcr  tiou 


"Zl 


to  the  teac 
tbom  by  tl 
of  their  \ 
before  thei 

Cortez 

to  j)ronoui 

attracted 

until  he  as( 

the  Indian 

lie  imn 

restore  thei 

then,  name 

ant  place  i 

other,  one  J 

the  Indians 

lie  said  to 

ried,  and  ha 

the  wars;  g 

my  cars  boi 

if  I  went  ai 

De  Solis  i 

but  a  preten 

able  Convei! 

Honour  or 

Spaniard,  ii 

mitted  the  1 

wortliy  to   1 

found  in  the 

and   his  Kx 

Nature,  and 

fall,  when  G 

Poor  Agu 

nearly  nakei 

guishable  frc 

tilian  W3rds  ^ 


AIJORIGINKS  OF  MPZXICO. 


ai 


to  the  teachings  wliich  wore  so  earnestly  impressed  upon 
them  by  tlie  strangers,  and  a])pearc(l  to  hohl  the-  symbols 
of  their  worship  in  some  veneration,  oll'ering  ineense 
before  them,  as  erstwhile  to  the  idols 

Cortez  heard  one  of  the  Indians  malce  many  attempts 
to  j)ronounec  the  word  Castilla,  and,  his  attention  being 
attracted  by  the  circumstance,  he  pursued  his  inquiries 
until  he  ascertained  that  two  S])aniards  were  living  among 
the  Indians  on  the  main. 

He  immediately  usetl  great  diligence  to  ransom  and 
restore  them  to  liberty,  and  succeeded  in  the  case  of  one  of 
thcvn,  named  Jeronimo  de  Aguilar,  who  occupies  an  imj)(>rt- 
ant  place  in  the  subse(|uent  details  of  adventure.  '^JMie 
other,  one  Alonzo  Guerrero,  having  married  a  wife  among 
the  Indians,  preferred  to  remain  in  his  present  condition, 
lie  said  to  his  companion:  "Brother  Aguilar,  I  am  mar- 
ried, and  have  three  sons,  and  am  a  Cacique  and  ca])tain  in 
the  wars;  go  you  in  (lod's  name;  my  face  is  marked,  and 
my  ears  bored;  what  would  those  Spaniards  think  of  nie 
if  I  went  among  them?" 

De  Solis  says  of  this  nuin  that  his  natural  afiection  wjis 
but  a  pretence  "why  he  would  not  abandon  those  deplor- 
able Conveniences,  which,  with  him  weighed  more  than 
Honour  or  lleligion.  We  do  not  find  that  any  other 
Sjianiard,  in  the  wdiole  Course  of  these  Conquests,  com- 
mitted the  like  Crime;  nor  was  the  name  of  this  Wretch 
wortliv  to  be  remembered  in  this  History:  But,  bcin:'' 
found  in  the  writings  of  otliers,  it  could  not  be  concealed; 
and  his  Example  serves  to  show  us  the  Weakness  oC 
Nature,  and  into  what  an  Abyss  of  ^lisery  a  man  may 
fall,  when  God  has  abandon'd  him." 

Poor  Aguilar  had  been  eight  years  a  captive:  tatooed, 
nearly  naked,  and  browned  by  sun,  he  was  scarce  distin- 
guishable from  his  Indian  companions,  and  the  only  Cas- 
tilian  words  which  he  was  at  first  able  to  recall  were  "  Dios, 


!■,  t 


i  i 


,^m 


'-^^^.t^d 


hi 


I 

•1 


1! 

lit' 


It 

'lii 


iij 


il  ill: 


'•U 

II!  r 


J  ' 


•  '  '  ' 


62 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMKUKA. 


Santa  ^^aria,"  and  "Sovilla."  Still  iniiidfnl  of  liis  old 
associations  and  rcii;i;ion,  he  l)oro  at  his  shoulder  the  tat- 
tei'jd  iVagnients  of  a  prayer-book. 

He  bclonj^ud  lo  c-  ship's  crew  who  had  been  wrecked 
on  the  coast,  and  was  the  only  survivor  of  the  number, 
cxcej)t  (luerrero.  'J"he  rest  had  died  fi'oni  disease  and 
overwork,  or  had  been  sacrificed  to  the  idols  of  the  coun- 
try. Aguilar  had  been  "reserved  i\)r  a  future  occasion 
by  reason  of  his  Leanness,"  and  succeeded  in  escaping 
to  another  ti'ibe  and  another  master. 

Corte/.  sailed  with  his  fleet,  from  Co/umel,  for  the  river 
Tabasco,  which  was  reached  on  the  loth  of  March,  1519. 
Urging  their  way  against  the  current,  in  the  boats  and 
snudler  craft — for  the  principal  vessels  were  left  at  anchor 
near  the  mouth — the  whole  armament  entered  the  stre;"n. 
As  they  advanced,  the  Spaniards  })erceived  great  bodies 
of  Indians,  in  canoes,  and  on  bcjth  banks,  whose  outcries 
were  interpreted  by  Aguilar  to  be  ex{)ressions  of  hostility 
and  defiance.  Nitiht  came  on  before  anv  attack  was  made 
on  either  side.  Next  morning,  the  arin-'imcnt  recom- 
menced its  progress,  in  the  form  of  a  crescent:  the  men, 
protected  as  well  as  possible  by  their  shiehls  and  quilled 
mail,  were  ordered  to  keep  silence,  and  offer  no  violence 
until  ordered.  Aguilar,  who  understood  the  language  of 
these  In(bans,  was  commissioned  to  exj)lain  the  friendly 
purposes  of  his  companions,  and  to  warn  the  natives  of 
the  consequences  that  would  result  from  their  oj)position. 
The  Indians,  with  signs  of  great  fury  r-  1  violence,  refusi;d 
to  listen  to  him,  or  to  grant  permission  to  the  Spaniards 
to  sujijdy  themselves  with  wood  and  water. 

The  engagement  commenced  by  a  shower  of  arrows 
from  the  canoes  on  the  river,  and  an  immense  multitude 
opposed  the  landing  of  the  troops.  Numbers  and  bravery 
could  not,  however,  avail  against  the  European  skill  and 
im])lements  of  warfare.     '^I'hose  in  the  canoes  were  easily 


driven  ofl 
ftud  mars! 
cealed  to 
made  thei 
(liaiis  into 
T;d)aseo  \\ 
strong  pal 
heiiig  left. 

Cortez 
through  tl 
lueu  who  w 
jijete  ])osse: 
The  towi 
iards  had  ( 
hind  a  seco 
whistling  a 
tail).'"  Th 
woods. 


GRKAT 


IIiTiiEirrc 
powers  were 
and  spirit  of 
choivjo,  whc 
sorted  from 
Tabasco,  aiu 
He  explainer 
whose  flash  n 
abused  the  si  i 
of  the  invuli 


AUO  RIG  INKS  OF  MKXICO. 


G3 


driven  oil',  luid,  notwitlistaiuliiig  tlie  dink'ukies  of  a  wet 
jiiid  marshy  shore,  wliorc  thousands  of  the  enemy  hiy  eou- 
cealetl  to  s])rin<^f  u})Oii  them  unawares,  the  Spanish  lureea 
made  their  way  to  the  town  of  'J  abaseo,  driving  tlie  lu- 
(hans  into  tlie  fortress,  or  disjterring  thcMu  in  the  ion-st. 
Tabasco  was  protected  in  the  ordinai'v  Jndian  style,  by 
sti'oiig  palisades  of  trees,  a  narrow  and  erooked  eutrunco 
heing  left, 

Cortez  immediately  attacked  the  town,  and,  In'  tiring 
tlirough  the  })alisades,  his  troops  soon  drove  in  the  bow- 
men who  were  defending  tlicrn,  and  after  a  time,  got  com- 
plete possession. 

'i'he  town  was  obstinately  defended,  even  after  the  .Sj)an- 
iards  had  eflected  an  entrance.  The  enemy  retreated  be- 
hind a  second  barricade,  "fronting"  llu^  troo])s,  "valiantly 
whistling  and  shouting  'al  calaehioni,'  or  'kill  the  eap- 
taiii.'"  They  were  finally  overpowered,  and  lied  to  the 
woods. 


CHAPTKR    II. 

GRKAT    r.ATTl.r.S  WITH  THK    NATIVES — Cn.NClLIATOKY 

1 N T )•; ! ; c o i: K s !■: — do .\ n a  maim n a . 

IIiTiiEiiTO  a  blind  superstition,  by  which  supi^rnatural 
powers  were  ascribed  to  the  wdiites,  h;id  quelled  the  vigoi 
and  spirit  of  the  Indians,  but  an  interpreter  named  Mel- 
chorejo,  whom  Cortt;/.  had  bi'onght  over  from  Cuba,  de- 
serted from  the  Spanianls  during  the  first  night  spent  in 
Tabasco,  and  urged  the  natives  to  another  engagement, 
lie  explained  the  real  nattirc  of  the  mysterious  wea]>ons 
whose  flash  and  thunder  had  creattid  such  terror,  an<l  dis- 
abused the  simple  savages  of  the  ideas  entertained  by  them 
of  the  invulnerable  nature  of  their  foes.     They  proved  in 


iirt' 


i       \< 


K    :. 


t.Mi!^' 


1,4 


'J'f-^ 


ot 


INDIAN   11ACE3  OF  AMERICA. 


!:L 


9»< 


'  h 


icli 


di 


ta 


the  sul),sof[ucnt  battles  mucU  more  Uungcrous  opponon 
tli.'iTi  before.  'rii(3  iiriiTutor  mentions,  Avith  no  little  siitis- 
faction,  the  fate  of  this  deserter,  ilis  new  allies,  it  seems, 
"bein^  vanquished  ii  second  time,  revenj^ed  themselves  on 
the  adviser  of  the  war,  by  making  him  a  miserable  sacri- 
fice to  their  idols." 

All  was  as  still,  upon  the  succeeding  day,  as  if  the  ec>un- 
try  was  abandoiu  1  b;;  its  inhabitants,  but  a  party  of  one 
humb'ed  ;  ik  a  sout,  was  suddenly  surrounded  and 
attacked  '  .  ■••'!;  '-ordes  of  the  enemy,  that  they  might 
have  been  c.  •.  "i  luv  sheer  fatigue,  but  for  another  com- 
])any  which  came  Uj  i,.nr  assistance.  As  the  Sj)aniards 
endeavored  to  retre;;t  to  the  camp,  the  Indians  would  rush 
upon  them  in  full  force,  "who,  immediately  upon  tlieir 
i'ai'ing  about,  got  out  of  their  reach,  retiring  with  the  stiine 
swiftness  that  they  vrero  attacked;  the  motions  of  this 
great  multitude  of  barbarians  from  one  side  to  another, 
resembling  the  rolling  of  the  sea,  whose  waves  are  driven 
back  by  the  wind." 

Two  of  the  Spaniards  were  killed  and  eleven  wounded 
in  the  fray:  of  the  Tnchans,  eighteen  were  .seen  lying  dead 
on  the  field,  and  several  prisoners  were  t  ken.  From  these 
Cortez  learned  that  tribes  from  all  sides  were  gathered  to 
assist  those  of  Tabasco  in  a  general  cntraGrement  T)lann(^d 
for  the  next  (Lay,  and  he  accordingly  made  the  most  dili- 
gent {)reparation  to  receive  them.  The  horses  were  brought 
on  shore,  and  care  was  taken  to  restore  their  animation, 
subdued  by  confinement  on  board  ship. 

As  soon  as  day  broke,  Mass  was  said,  and  the  little  army 
was  put  in  motion  to  advance  upon  the  enemy.  ^I'hey 
were  discovered  marshalled  on  the  vast  plain  of  Cintia, 
in  such  nund)ers  that  it  was  impossible  to  compute  them. 
They  extended  so  far,  says  Solis,  "that  the  sight  could  not 
reach  to  see  the  end  of  them."  The  Indian  warriors  were 
painted  and  plumed,  their  arms  were  bows  and  arrows, 


I      ^    ^ 


clings,  dar 
wooden  s\v 
by  (piilted 
toise-shell 

T.J  the  s 
and  large 
Sj)aiiiards, 
weapons,  o 
stones  and 
them  down 
iiig  clouds  (1 
of  "ala— la 
viz:   a  con> 
tlieir  grouiK 
Tiic  little 
})ers<)n,  had 
the  Indians 
through  the 
ania/ed  ther 
:is  the  horse 
took  the  mo 
horse  and  hi 
On  the  fiel 
lay  more  thai 
But  two  of 
of  their  nun 
barbarians. 

Tlie  victor.' 
Lady,  his  ble 
wounds,  and 
of  dead  Indis 
and  sleep. 

Lopez  dc  G 
under  the  for 
field  during  t] 
5 


AHOlilfJINKS  OF  MEXICO. 


r.f) 


clings,  darts,  clul)S  armod  witli  sliarj)  flints,  and  lioavy 
wooden  sword.-^.  '^Dic  bodies  of  the  lenders  \v<^re  j)rotecte(l 
hv  (iuiUt'(l  eoiits  of  cotton,  and  they  bore  shields  of  tor- 
tois(>-sludl  or  wood,  nioiuitcd,  in  some  instancies,  with  pild. 

To  the  smiiid  of  rude  drums,  and  the  blast  of  se;i-siirll.s 
and  lar;^(!  (lutes,  the  vast  crowd  fell  furiously  niton  the 
Spaniards,  an*!  although  checked  by  their  more  eH'u'ient 
weapons,  only  retired  to  a  convenient  distance  for  hurling 
stones  and  discharging  arrows.  'J'he  rield-})ieces  mowed 
them  down  by  hundreds,  but  concealing  the  havoc  by  rais- 
ing clouds  of  dust,  and  closing  up  their  ranks  with  shouts 
of  "ala — lala"  (the  precise  sound  of  the  'I'urkish  war-cry, 
viz:  a  constant  repetition  of  the  word  AllaJi),  they  held 
their  sxround  with  the  most  determined  courage. 

Tiie  little  handful  of  cavalry,  which,  led  by  Cortez  in 
jjcrson,  had  made  a  detour  to  avoid  a  marsli,  now  fell  \i\mv' 
the  Indians  from  a  new  quarter,  and,  riding  through  ai 
through  the  crowded  mass  of  savages,  so  bewildered  and 
uniaxcd  them,  that  they  fled  in  dismay.  Xo  such  animal 
as  the  horse  had  ever  Iteforc  been  seen  by  them:  they 
took  the  monsters,  says  Diaz,  for  centaurs,  supposing  the 
horse  and  his  rider  to  be  one. 

On  the  field  of  battle,  as  the  conquerors  passed  over  it, 
lay  more  than  eiglit  hundred  dead  or  desperately  wounded. 
But  two  of  the  Spaniards  were  killed,  although  seventy 
of  their  number  were  wounded  at  the  first  rush  of  the 
barbarians. 

The  victors  having  rendered  thanks  "to  God  and  to  our 
Lady,  his  blessed  Mother,"  for  their  success,  dressed  their 
wounds,  and  those  of  the  invaluable  horses,  with  the  fat 
of  dead  Indians,  and  retired  to  refresh  themselves  by  fo(xl 
and  sleep. 

Lopez  de  Gomara  affirms  that  one  of  the  holy  ajtostles, 
under  the  form  of  Francisco  de  Morla,  appeared  upon  the 
field  during  this  bloody  engagement,  and  turned  tlie  scale 


\ 


ii% 


H 


t  ! 


r-'' 


r|4- 


V' 


» 


WHI^ 


ij. 


^t 


ill 

liii 
I 


6(j 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


of  vi<!tory.  Diaz  says:  "Tt  rni^'lit  bo  tlic  case,  aiul  T,  sin- 
ner as  I  am,  was  not  juTmittcd  to  see  it.  Wliat  i  did  sec 
was  Knmciseo  d(3  Moria,  in  ('(tnii>any  with  (^orttv.  and  tlio 
rest,  upon  a  chesnut  liorsu — Jiut  altlionuli  I,  unwortliy  sin- 
n(^r  that  I  atn,  was  unfit  to  In-hold  either  of  those  holy 
apostles,  upwards  of  four  hundred  of  us  were  present;  Id 
their  testimony  be  taken."  Ho  adds,  that  he  never  heard 
of  the  ineident  until  he  read  of  it  in  (Joinara's  history. 

Several  prisoners  were  taken  in  this  battle,  ainon<^  them 
two  who  ap[)eared  to  be  of  superior  rank.  Tliese  were 
dismissed  with  presents  and  favors,  to  earry  proptxsals  of 
])eaec  to  their  friends.  The  result  was  highly  satisfaetory : 
lilleen  slaves,  with  blaekencd  faees  and  raggeil  attire  "in 
token  of  eontrition,"  eanie  bringing''  (^^'erin,L^s.  JVrmission 
was  given  to  buiy  and  burn  the  bodies  of  those  who  IMI 
in  the  teri'ible  slaughter,  that  they  might  not  be  devoured 
by  wild  beasts  ("Lyons  and  Tygers"  according  to  Diaz). 
Tliis  duty  accomplished,  ten  of  the  caciqut^s  and  ])rineipal 
Mien  made  their  appearance,  clad  in  robes  of  state,  and 
expressed  desire  for  peace,  excusing  their  hostility,  as  the 
result  of  bad  advice  from  their  neighbors  and  tlie  jiersua- 
sion  of  the  renegade  whom  they  liad  saeriliccd.  Cortez 
took  pains  to  impress  them  with  ideas  of  his  power  and 
the  gi-eatness  of  the  monarch  lie  served  ;  he  ordered  the 
artillery  to  be  discharged,  and  one  of  the  most  spirited  of 
the  horses  to  be  brought  into  the  recejition-room :  "  it  being 
.so  contrived  that  he  should  show  himself  to  the  greatest 
advantage,  his  apj)arent  fierceness,  and  his  action,  struck 
the  natives  witli  awe." 

Man-*  more  chiefs  came  in  on  the  following  day,  bring- 
ing the  usual  presents  of  little  gold  figures,  the  material 
of  which  came,  they  said,  from  "Culehua,"  and  from  "Mex- 
ico," words  not  yet  familiar  to  the  cars  of  the  S{)aniards. 

^^wenty  women  were,  moreover,  olfored  as  presents,  and 
gladly  received  by  Cortez,  who  bestowed  one  upon  each 


'■'w 


of  Ills  ofTu 
tlie  pleasui 
of  his  fliitli 
15artlioloin( 
iiig  nothin; 
interpreter, 
hut  tliese 
women  of 
Among 
beauty  aiK 
Marina.     SI 
j'arental  eru 
slavery  at  a 
a  Ah^xican  f 
tlic  liands  of 
Mexican    lar 
Tabasco,  so 
Aguilar,   to 
interior,  thro 
mastered  the 
throughout  h 
ly  him,  who 
iu  considerat 
Before  this  c( 
iiiander  upon 
ure  for  Castil 


AHOUir.INK.S  OV  MKXICO. 


67 


of  his  ofTicors.  Tlioy  wore  all  duly  l)!ii)tizotl,  and  liad 
the  plca.suro  of  li.sU'niii;;  to  a  discoursi^  upon  the  luystcrics 
of  his  f;iith,  doliverod  for  their  esjRHMal  bcnelit  by  l-'athcr 
IJartlioloincw,  tlio  spiritual  guide  of  the  invaders.  Know- 
ing nothing  of  the  language,  and  liaving  no  competent 
interpreter,  it  j)robably  made  no  very  vivid  inij)ressi()n, 
hut  these  captives  were  set  down  as  the  first  Christian 
w'oiaen  of  the  countrv. 

Among  them  was  one  young  woman  of  remarkable 
beauty  and  intelligence,  whom  the  Sj)aniar(ls  christened 
>ranna.  She  was  said  to  be  of  royal  })arentage,  but,  from 
))arental  cruelty,  or  the  fortunes  of  war,  had  been  held  in 
slavery  at  a  settlement  on  the  borders  of  Y'ucatan,  where 
a  ^^exiean  fort  was  established,  and  afterwards  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Tabascan  cacique.  She  spoke  both  the 
Mexican  language,  and  that  common  to  Yucatan  and 
Tabasco,  so  that  Corte;i  was  able,  by  means  of  her  and 
Aguilar,  to  communi(!ate  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
interior,  through  a  doul)le  interj)retation,  until  A[arina  ha<l 
mastered  the  Spanish  tongue.  She  accompanied  Corte/. 
throughout  his  eventful  career  in  Mexico,  and  had  a  son 
In-  hiin,  who  was  made,  says  Solis,  "a  Knight  of  St.  Jago, 
in  consideration  of  the  Nobility  of  his  ^[other's  birth." 
Before  this  connection  she  had  been  bestowed  by  the  com- 
mander upon  one  Alonzo  Puerto  Carrero,  until  his  depart- 
ure for  Castile. 


* 


ii.f 


t 
»    I 


1 1 


3!l 


'    :  ,i! 


•^■J*:^ 


V'i 


i;ii 


I  'i 


;      '0 


*i 


M 


I'-!' 

I 


68  INDIAN   UACE3  OF  AMKUICX 


ClIAPTKU   III. 

C0MMI;NI('/\TI0.\S    with    the    MKXICAN    RMPEKOK — TH8 
ZKMroAM.ANS    AND    til.'l A VISTLANS. 

"Thon  ton  d.>,Ht  piirpo  from  riirlli  its  horriblo 
And  old  idolatries; — t'roii,  their  proud  tiitiPB 
Eiich  to  his  ^Tave  their  priests  jro  out,  till  none 
Ih  lutX  to  tcMch  their  vvurKhip! ' 

Ukyant's  Ilijmn  to  Dmlh. 

Bkfouk  his  (It'piirturo  from  Tiiljiisco,  Cortc/  Jiiul  liis 
priest  ina(K)  strenuous  ellorts  to  cxj)l:iin  the  jjriuoiples  of 
his  religion  to  the  ehiefs  and  their  people.  This,  indeed, 
seems  really  to  have  been  a  purpose  uppermost  in  his 
heart  throughout  the  whole  of  his  bloody  cum})aign ;  but, 
as  may  well  be  supposed,  the  subject  was  too  abstract,  too 
novel,  and  too  little  capable  of  })roofs  which  apj)eal  to  tlu; 
senses  and  inclinations,  to  meet  with  much  favor.  "They 
only  complied,"  says  Solis,  "as  men  that  were  subdued, 
being  more  inclined  to  receive  another  God  than  to  j)art 
with  any  of  their  own.  They  hearkened  with  pleasure, 
and  seemed  desirous  to  comprehend  what  they  heard:  but 
reason  was  no  sooner  admitted  by  the  will  than  it  was 
rejected  by  the  understanding."  1'hey  acknowledged 
that  "this  must,  indeed,  be  a  great  God,  to  whom  such 
valiant  men  show  so  much  respect." 

From  the  river  Tabasco  the  fleet  sailed  direct  for  San 
Juan  de  Ulua,  where  they  were  no  sooner  moored  than 
two  large  })iraguas  with  a  number  of  Indians  on  board 
came  boldly  alongside.  By  the  interpretation  of  Marina, 
Cortez  learned  that  these  came  in  behalf  of  Pitalpitoquc 
and  Tendile,  Governor  and  Captain  of  the  district,  under 
Montezuma,  to  inquire  as  to  his  purposes,  ard  to  make 

I'hc  mcssciigers  were 


offers  of  friendship  and  assistance. 


If 


lum.'l.-<c)rii(' 
cnts,  trilli 
their  uiisk 
As  the  t 
men  to  a.'-js 
service  wl 
!Uid  rujiidi 
On  the 
came  to  th 
Xot  to  be  ( 
iliers,  and  h 
^fass  was  sa 
and  oj)ened 
Don  Carlos, 
itig  a  desire 
mighty  Ernj 
Tiiis  proj 
Iiiin  to  acee]) 
itc,  which  tl 
peace.     ]Jiax 
haughty   ast( 
Cortez  told  i 
the  country  a 
pcTor;  but,  t( 
the  Indians,  ] 
sent  to  the  c 
mencing  furtl 
Painters,  v 
work  to  depic 
and  his  oflicf 
other  furnitur 
and,  above  a' 
struck  them 
were  for  the 
more  clearly  \ 


m 


1 


AHOiar.IN'KS  OF  MKXICO. 


69 


liaii'l.-'onK'lv  oiit('rt;iiti('(l,  and  dismissed  with  a  few  pres- 
ents, tridiii.L,'  in  tlicinsolvcs,  but  of  inestimable  value  in 
tlieir  unskiHul  oyc^s. 

A.",  the  troops  hmdccl,  Tcndilo  sent  great  nutnVx'rs  oflii.s 
men  to  assist  in  ereeting  huts  for  their  aceommodation;  a 
service  wliich  was  rendered ,  with  remarkable  dexterity 
and  ra])idity. 

On  the  morning  of  Kaster-day,  tlu;  two  great  oflicera 
came  to  the  eamp  with  a  lordly  company  of  attiMidants. 
Not  to  be  outdone  in  ])arade,  Cortez  marshalle(l  his  sol- 
diers, and  liaving  conducted  the  chiefs  to  the  rude  chapel, 
Mass  was  said  with  due  ceremony.  He  then  feasted  them, 
anil  o])cned  negotiations  by  telling  of  his  great  sovereign, 
Don  Carlos,  of  Austria,  (Charles  the  Fifth,)  and  express- 
ing a  desire  to  hold  communion  in  his  behalf  with  the 
mighty  Km])eror  Monto/uma. 

This  proj)osition  met  with  little  favor.  Tendile  urged 
liim  to  accejit  the  j)rt.>sonts  of  plumcvl  cotton  mantles,  gold, 
&('.,  which  they  had  brought  to  oiler  him,  and  depart  in 
poaco.  Diaz  says  that  the  Indian  commander  expressed 
haughty  astonishment  at  the  Spaniard's  presumption. 
Cortez  told  them  that  lie  was  fully  resolved  not  to  leave 
the  country  without  obtaining  an  audience  from  the  em- 
peror; but,  to  quiet  the  apjirehension  and  disturbance  of 
the  Indians,  he  agreed  to  wait  until  a  message  could  bo 
sent  U)  the  court  and  an  answer  returned,  before  com- 
mencing further  operations. 

Painters,  whose  skill  Din:  enlarges  upon,  now  set  to 
work  to  depict  upon  rolls  of  cloth,  the  jjortraits  of  Cortcz 
and  his  officers,  t^  '  aspect  of  the  army,  the  arms,  and 
other  furniture,  the  .-jmoke  poured  forth  from  the  cannon, 
and,  above  all,  the  horses,  whose  "obedient  fierccnCvSs" 
struck  them  with  astonishment.  These  represcmtations 
were  for  the  benefit  of  luontczuma,  that  he  might  learn 
more  clearly  than  he  could  by  verbal  report,  the  nature 


r"i 


''UP 


iH  '.. 


(1    ) 


I  f 


1 1 1 


Mr^ 


','■^'0 


,j*J 


H 

1  \ 

i 

i 
.,|i 

1' ' 

I'll   r 
iiir  i 


'il  I  I B' 


f  I. 


70 


INDIAN  IJACES  OF  AMEUTCA. 


of  Ills  novel  visitants.  }\y  tlie  inessoiifrors,  Cortoz  sent, 
as  a  royal  present,  a  crimson  velvet  cap,  witli  a  lcoM 
medal  upon  it,  some  ornaments  of  cut  glass,  and  a  chair 
of  tajiestry. 

Pitalpitfxpic  now  settled  himself,  with  a  great  company 
of  his  people,  in  a  temponiiy  collection  of  huts,  huilt  in 
t\\v,  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Spanish  camp,  while  Ten- 
dile  attended  to  the  delivery  of  the  message  to  his  mon- 
arch. Diaz  sa3's  that  lie  went  to  the  royal  couit,  at  the 
city  of  .Nfexico,  in  person,  heing  renowned  for  his  swift- 
ness of  loot;  bnt  the  more  ])robal)le  account  is  that  he 
availed  himself  of  a  regular  system  of  couriers,  established 
over  the  more  important  routes  throughout  the  emjiire. 
However  this  may  be,  an  answer  was  returned  in  seven 
days'  time,  the  distance,  between  ^^exico  and  San  Juan 
being  sixty  leagues,  by  the  shortest  road. 

With  the  messenger  returr.ed  a  great  olFicer  of  the 
court,  named  Quintalbor,  who  bore  a  most  striking  resem- 
blance to  Cortez,  and  one  hundred  other  Indiaris,  loaded 
with  gifts  for  the  Sjfaniards.  Escorted  by  Tendile,  the 
embassy  arrived  at  the  camp,  and,  after  performing  iJic 
usual  ceremony  of  solemn  salutations,  by  burning  incen.se, 
&c.,  the  !Mexic.'ui  lords  caused  mats  to  be  s})read,  and  dis- 
played the  gorgeous  jiresents  they  had  brought. 

These  consisted  of  beautifully  woven  C(jtton  cloths; 
ornamental  woi'k  in  feathers,  so  skilfully  executed  that 
the  figures  represented  had  all  the  elfect  of  a  j)ainting; 
a  quantity  of  gold  in  its  rough  state;  images  wn^ight  or 
cast  in  gold  of  various  animals;  and,  above  all,  two  huge 
plates,  one  of  gold,  the  other  of  silver,  fancifully  chased 
and  embossed  to  re})resent  the  sun  and  moon.  Diaz  says 
that  the  golden  sun  was  of  the  si/e  of  a  carriage  wheel, 
and  that  the  silver  })late  was  still  larger. 

Prollering  these  rich  tokens  of  good  will,  together  with 
numerous  minor  articles,  the  chiefs  delivered  their  mou 


1  ^ 

area  s   mi 
good  will, 
to   visit   li 

allcireil  to 

liiiiteil  tha 
existed  wl 
Coi-tez, 

iiiinatioii, 
gilts;    exp 
iiii'ssage  Ir 

without  (li 

i 

1 

having  pei- 
He,  mea 
with   two 
lieulthy  ]»la 
sand  where 
.Montezui 
tlie  Spania 
liis  determii 
erto  mainta 
ceased.    Te 
and  Pitalpit 

jiorary  dom 
The  soldi 

1 
i 

vision,  and 
store  lor  th 
home.     Coi 

same  policy 
SI'S,  under  s( 

1 

at  large  in  t 

He  seeme 

of  the  male 

1 

of  making 
tli(!  most  tn 

, , 

■among  the  t 

1 

ABOUIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


71 


arch's  mission.  Accoiiipani(Ml  Its-  qvctv  expression  of 
(food  will,  his  rdnsal  was  declared  to  allow  tlie  stranfr(M-s 
to  visit  his  court.  Bail  roads  and  hostile  tribes  were 
iiIh\L,'ed  to  constitute  insuperable  dilliculties,  but  it  was 
hinteil  that  more  important,  thou^di  un(!Xj)lainable  reasons 
existed  why  the  interview  could  not  take  ]ilace. 

(\)i'tez,  courteously,  but  tinnly,  persisted  in  his  deter- 
niination,  and  dismissed  the  ambassadors  with  rcnewi'd 
liil'ts;  expressing  himself  eonleiit  to  await  yet  another 
iiii'ssau;e  from  ^fontezuma.  He  said  that  he  could  not, 
without  dishonoring  tlu;  hing  his  master,  return  before 
having  jiersonal  communication  with  the  eitij)eror. 

He,  meantime,  sent  a  detachment  further  up  the  coast,  • 
with   two  vessels,   to  seek   for  a    more    conv(Miient    and 
healthy  })laee  of  encampment  than  the  burning  plain  of 
s:nid  where  the  army  was  now  quartered. 

Mt)ntezuma  persisted  in  objections  to  the  advance  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  C\)rtez;  bring  eipnilly  immovable  in 
his  determination  to  })roeeed,  the  iVimdly  inttu'courst*  hith- 
erto maintained  between  the  natives  and  their  guests  now 
r«'ased.  Tendilc  took  his  leave  with  some  ominous  threat.s, 
and  I'italpitoipie  with  his  ])eople  departed  from  their  tem- 
pui'nry  domiciles. 

The  soldiers,  cut  off  from  their  f  )rmer  supjtlies  of  pro- 
vision, and  seeing  nothing  but  dangtu*  and  privation  in 
store  f  )r  them,  bi'gan  to  rebel,  and  to  talk  of  returning 
home.  Cortez  checked  this  movement  by  precisely  the 
same  policy  timt  was  resorted  to  by  Agamemnon  and  I'lys- 
ses,  under  somewhat  similar  circumstances,  as  will  be  found 
at  large  in  the  second  book  of  the  J/r.i'/,  line  110  <t  .vy/. 

lie  .seemed  to  a.ssent  to  the  arguments  of  the  spokesman 
of  the  malcontents,  and  i)roceeded  to  proclaim  his  purpose 
of  making  sail  for  Cuba,  but,  in  the  meantime,  engagi,'d 
th(!  most  trusty  of  his  fi'iends  to  excite  a  contrary  feeling 
uuiong  the  troojis.     The  effoit  was  signally  suecesslul :   the 


J 


\i 


t       I 


u 


m 


i 


(    i< 


ilit  iKIi u 


m 


in 


,11! 


Ill' 


I'M 


il    ' 


i 


mr 


'V' 


72 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


flc 


^ly 


itoJ  to 


id  lead  tlu 


corninanacr  graciously  consoiitoa  to  remain, 

to  fiu-ther  conquests,  cxj)ressing  his  great  satisfaction  in 

finding  tliein  of  such  bold  and  determined  s{)irit. 

Ahout  this  time,  Bernal  Diaz  and  another  sentinel  being 
stationed  on  the  beach,  at  some  distance  from  the  camp, 
]  'M'ceived  five  In(hans  of  a  diil'creiit  aj)})earaiicc  from  any 
liitherto  seen,  approaching  them  upon  the  level  sands, 
Diaz  conducted  them  to  the  general,  who  learned,  by 
Mai'in;i's  interpretation,  that  thciy  came  i!i  behalf  of  the 
caci([ue  of  Zempoala,  or  Cenij)oal,  to  ])rolli'r  the  services 
of  their  king  and  his  ])eople.  Tliis  tribe  iieUl  the  Mexi- 
cans in  great  fear  and  detestation,  and  rejoiced  in  tlie 
()pj)onunity  iio\V])resented  for  attein})ting  some  retaliation 
lor  ibrmer  op})ressioiis  and  injuries. 

The  ex})loring  expedition  had  iliseoveivd  a  desii'able 
location,  at  tlic  town  of  Quiavistlan,  a  few  leagues  ncjrth 
of  the  encampment,  and  Cortez  conchided  to  move  tliitlier 
imnuHliately.  Ik'fore  taking  further  stej)S,  he  estaljlisiied 
himself  more  firmly  in  connuantl  by  resigning  his  eonnuis- 
sion  iiiidcr  Valascpiez,  and  taking  tlie  vote  of  his  followei's 
as  to  whether  he  should  be  their  captain.  This  being  settled 
to  his  satisfaction,  he  marched  fjr  '^liavistlun,  j)assing  the 
river  at  the  sj)ot  where  Vera  Cru/:  was  afterwards  built, 

Z('m})oalla  lay  in  his  route,  and  there  the  army  was 
met  by  a  dejtutation  from  the  eaci(pie,  Ik;  l)eing  too  cor- 
pul»Mit  to  come  in  ])erson.  Sweet-smelling  ihnvers  wrre 
ollered  as  tokens  of  frii'iidshij)  to  the  Spanish  olliei'i's. 
Till'  town  was  well  built,  and  ornamented  with  shade- 
trees.  'JMie  'nhabitants  collected  in  innnmerable  but  oi-- 
derly  crowds  to  witness  the  entrance  of  the  cavalcade. 
The  "fat  caci(|ue"  entertained  his  guests  haiidsomclv, 
making  grievous  complaints  of  the  o])pressions  and  exac- 
tions Hulfcred  by  him  and  his  tribes  at  tlu;  hands  of  Mon- 
tezuma's ollicers.  lie  had  been  subdued  bv  the  great 
em])eroi-,  and  was  now  his  unwilling  tributarv. 


Quiavist 
I    which  tlie 
'    tion  on  the 
!    mostly  fied 
iurds.    Int 
with  the  lb 
chief  men 
th"ir  jieopl 
return,  as  n 
They  cam 
(•iii'pulcnt  e:i 
All  united  il 
(1,'ition  and  st 
tyrant  Montr 
seized  and  e 
sacrificed  no 
While  the 
ilU(.'e  fj-om  tll( 
with  termr  b 
emissaries  or 
whom  th(,'  Qu 
servility,  did 
till'  Spanish 
"ill  mantle.5  ( 
their  hair  si:i 
head,  and  eao' 
which  he  oec 
servants,  who 
''"I'll  a:id  a  bo 
Calling  the 
linked  them  i 
the  expressed 
fiir  the  contei 
<ortt'z,   being 
imprisonment 


ABORIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


73 


Quiavlstlan  was  situated  ujion  a  rocky  eminence,  up 
which  the  anny  advauccil,  ])iv{tarcd  to  crush  any  oj)pOf>i- 
tioii  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants.  'J'hese,  however,  had 
mostly  fled  from  their  homes  on  the  ap})roacli  of  the  Span- 
iiirils.  In  the  principal  s<[uare,  Cortcz  was  met,  and  saluted 
with  the  usual  fumigations  of  incense,  by  fifteen  of  the 
chief  men  of  the  town.  They  excused  the  timidity  of 
their  peoi)le,  and  promised  that  th(\y  should  immediately 
return,  as  no  injuries  were  intended  by  the  strangers. 

They  came  accordingly;  the  chiefs,  together  with  the 
corpulent  caciipie  of  Zcinjxjalla,  being  borne  upon  litters. 
All  unitt'd  in  lamentations  over  the  cruel  state  of  degra- 
dation and  servitude  to  which  they  were  stdijected  by  the 
tyrant  Montezuma.  I  le  plundcn.'d  them  of  their  treasures, 
sci/ed  an.d  carried  away  their  wives  and  daughters,  and 
saciiriectl  no  small  nundji'r  of  tliem  to  his  gods. 

While  they  were  yet  consulting  ami  beseeching  assist- 
ance iVom  the  Sj)aniards,  the  whole  conclave  was  stricken 
with  terror  by  the  intelligence  of  the  arrival  of  five  roval 
emissaries  in'  tax-gatherers.  'J'liese  stately  p(,'rs;)nages,  to 
whom  the  Quiavistlans  hastened  to  minister  with  criiiging 
Hcrvility,  did  not  even  condescend  to  bestow  a  look  upon 
the  Spanish  ofliccrs.  '''I'hey  were  dressed,''  says  iJiaz, 
"ill  mantlco  elegantly  wnjught,  and  drawers  of  the  sanu,\ 
their  hair  si  lining,  and,  as  it  were,  tied  at  the  top  of  the 
head,  and  eav.h  of  them  had  in  his  hand  a  bunch  of  roses, 
wliich  he  oeciusiomdly  smelt  to.  They  were  attended  by 
scivaiits,  who  fanned  th>'m,  and  each  of  whom  curried  a 
'did  aiid  a  hooked  stick." 

Calling  the  caciques  before  them,  these  dignitaries  re- 
linked them  for  entertaining  foreigneis,  who  disregarded 
the  expressed  will  of  the  emperor,  and,  as  a  j)unishment 
tor  the  contempt,  demanded  twenty  victim.-  i<)r  sacrifice. 
Cortez,  being  informed  of  this,  advised  the  seizure  and 
impri.sonmenc  of  the.se  emks.saries  until  repor;  ol'  iheircru- 


fr  ij 


4\    ' 


I 


il '  m 


^iiih^iil 


\  ■? 


1^;.; 


1  1 


'"<'} 


Z> 


74 


INDIAX  RACKS  OF  AMEIUCA. 


elties  and  insolence  conld  ho  made  to  their  master,  Tlio 
oaei(|ues,  accustomed  to  suhmission,  were  at  first  liorror- 
stricken  at  tlu;  i)r()i)<)sal,  hut  Cort(^z  p('rsistin<r  l)oldly  and 
conlidcntly  in  his  ojunion,  they  went  to  the  other  extreme. 
The  live  ma^LMiates  were  ])laced,  says  Solis,  "in  n  kind  of 
J'illories,  wmhI  in  th(Mr  I'risons,  and  very  ineoimnodious; 
for  tliey  lield  tlie  dehiKjuiuits  hy  tlie  neck,  ohli,L,nTig  tlieni 
continually  to  do  the  utmost  with  their  shoulders  to  case 
the  weii^ht,  for  the  freedom  of  hreathin^'."  "One  of  tluMii, 
also,  heing  refractory,  was  heaten  soundly." 

The  exultant  (Juiavistlans  would  have  gone  still  farther, 
and  made  a  sjieedy  end  of  their  ])risoners,  had  not  Cortiv 
interfered.  Not  willing  to  give  immediate  offence  to  ^^ou- 
tezuma,  hut  desirous  of  heing  in  condition  at  any  moment 
to  ])iek  a  quarrel,  or  to  claim  tlu^  rewards  and  consid  ti- 
tion  due  to  meritorious  stTvices,  he  contrived  to  eHVet  t;si: 
esea))e  of  two  of  thesi^  lords,  charging  \\\cv,  to  give  hc; 
all  credit  for  the  act  at  their  master's  court.  To  |-.re.^er^  •> 
the  other  three  fi'om  dcsti'uction,  he  took  th'^n  on  1k',!i,j  miic 
of  his  vessel.s,  (the  fleet  having  come  rou' d  hy  s(  a")  u  'er 
pretence  of  safe  kee])ing.  lie,  none  ihe  less  ]>r.  hnme' 
to  the  caciques,  his  allies,  that  they  should,  thereafter  be 
free  from  all  oppn^ssiou"^  ;Mid  exactions  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexican  autlu^rities. 

'J'he  army  was  runv  set  to  vrv.-:  the  foundatior  cA'  a 
permanent  fortification  ami  •■!"  n.  By  the  willing  assist- 
ance of  the  natives,  the  walls  of  Vera  Cruz  rose  rapidlv. 
'J'o  excite  a  spirit  of  iiahistry  and  enudation,  Cortcz  com- 
menced the  work  of  digging  and  carrying  materials  with 
his  own  hands.  Thirty  caciques,  froiu  the  mountainous 
districts  of  the  'I'otonaques,  led  by  reports  of  Spanish  valor 
and  virtues,  came  in  to  ofTer  their  servicer  and  alliance. 
Their  followers  are  inimber(>d  by  Ilerrera  (an  author  who 
speaks  too  confiileiitly  of  particulars)  at  one  hundred  thou- 
Rand  nu  ti;  wild  mounlaiiiecrs,  Init  bold  and  ellicient. 


I  .. 


"While  a 
80 11  gers  one 
greatly  exc 
olliccr.s,  h;i( 
who  liad  be 
his  own  ni 
sj)lon(lid  re 
ciiibiissy  for 
two  tax-gat 
vcheiuentlv 
(Irr,  by  the 
i/.c'it  of  th( 
was  adjurc( 
towards  the 
(hingers  of  t 
tluy  enlarge 
the  princi])al 

Cortcz  rej 
give  /est  to 
fear,  and  onl 
taiiied  tiie  i 
with  ju'c.sent 

'i'lie  Zemj) 
between  thei 
vantage  of  1 
neighboring 
cinga.  'I'hej 
a  trouhlesou" 
a.>^sist  tliiMii  i 
(Ireil  Sj)aniar 
SiKuiish  lead 
enemy  was  t 
town,  eight 
friars,  came  i 
aries  present* 


.r'^r::^?*^-' 


AHOUKilNKS  OF  MEXICO. 


75 


Wliilc  all  hands  were  at  work  upon  the  new  town,  nies- 
Bcngers  once  again  apiJeaivd  from  Montezuma.  His  anger, 
greatly  excited  by  the  first  reports  of  the  seizure  of  liis 
odieers,  had  been  mitigated  by  the  favorable  rcj)ort  of  those 
wlio  had  been  allowed  to  eseaiie;  and  he  now  sent  two  of 
his  own  nei)hews,  accompanied  by  four  old  lords,  and  a 
splendiil  retinue.  Acknowledgments  were  made  by  the 
einb:'.s.sy  for  the  service  rendered  by  Cortcz  in  setting  the 
two  tax-gatherers  at  libiirty ;  but  he  was,  at  the  same  time, 
vehemently  requested  to  leave  the  country,  and  not  hin- 
der, by  the  respect  due  to  his  presence,  the  just  ])unish- 
i.ient  of  the  rebels  with  whom  he  was  cohal/iting.  lie 
was  a<ljured  not  to  dream  of  making  further  progress 
towai'ils  the  royal  court,  "for  that  tlie  impediments  and 
dangers  of  that  journey  were  very  great.  On  which  ])oint 
tlii'V  enlarged  with  a  mysterious  tediousness;  this  being 
the  j)rineipal  point  of  their  instructions." 

Cortez  re])lied  that  danger  and  dilVieulties  would  but 
give  zest  to  the  adventure,  for  that  Spaniards  knew  no 
fear,  and  only  sought  for  glory  and  renown.  He  enter- 
taiiH^d  tiie  ministers  handsomelv,  and  dismissed  them 
with  presents. 

The  Zeinpoalans  thought  that  the  friendship  cemented 
between  them  and  the  forcMgners  could  not  be  taken  !id- 
vantage  of  better  than  by  engaging  them  to  subdue  a 
neighboring  tribe,  whose  chief  town  was  called  ringaj)a- 
eiiiga.  They  therefore  induced  Cortcz,  by  pretending  that 
a  troublesome  ^^exiean  garrison  was  quartered  there,  to 
assist  them  in  eoiKpicring  the  country.  With  four  hun- 
(Ireil  Sj)aniards,  and  a  gn'at  eomj)any  of  Zemj)oalans,  the 
Si>aiiish  leader  entered  the  mountain  district  wiiere  th' 
enemy  was  to  be  sought.  As  the  army  apj)roached  th( 
town,  eight  old  priests,  in  black  and  hoode(l  robes,  like 
friars,  eame  out  to  ilepreente  his  ang<T.  These  I'miction- 
arifs  pr('S('nte(1,  as  usual,  the  iiust  disgusting  and  horrible 


k\\ 


I   (I 


m 


mil  ': 


19 


■ti 


m 


iv 


W4 


■.''^'■■y. 


^'*'^^'''l 


ill  1 1. 


76 


INDIAN    HACKS  OK  AMKIIICA. 


a])I)oaraiicc.  Their  long  liair  was  taiiglod  and  clottod  Avith 
human  Llood,  which  it  was  a  j)art  of  their  rules  should 
never  be  washed  ofT,  and  their  j)ersons  were  filthy,  loatii- 
some,  and  offtMisivo  beyond  conception. 

Cortt'z  discovered  that  he  had  been  deceived,  or,  no 
Mexicans  were  in  tiu;  vicinity,  but  he  put  a  good  face  on 
the  matter,  and  succeeded  in  making  a  peaceable  arrange- 
WH'.nt  between  the  rival  tribes. 

Jieturning  to  Zempoala,  renewed  evidence  w<)<*  brought 
before  the  eyes  of  this  zealous  Catholic,  of  th'j  extent  to 
which  the  custom  of  human  sacrifice  was  carried;  and 
cs{)ecially  of  the  sale  and  consumj)tion  of  the  bodies  of 
the  victims  as  a  "sacred  food"  lie  therefore  concluded 
to  prostrate  the  idols,  and  set  up  i\w,  insignia  of  the  true 
religion.  Long  and  (>arii(\'<t  harafigues  failed  to  induce 
the  natives  to  {)erlbrm  this  service  tlunnselvcs:  they  would 
be  cut  to  pieces,  they  said,  ere  they  would  be  guilty  of 
such  sacrilege.  The  soldiers  then  bi-oke  up  and  destroyed 
the  images,  purged  the  temples,  and,  cov(>ring  the  bloody 
marks  of  pagan  worship  with  lir.'^  and  phuster,  erected  an 
altar,  and  celebrated  the  rites  of  Catholicism.  As  no  j)r()- 
digv  or  signal  vengeance  from  Heaven  followed  the  auda- 
cious act,  the  i)liabl(3  natives  seemed  readily  to  fall  in  with 
the  ])rop()sed  chang<\  and,  burning  the  fragments  of  their 
idols,  they  '\jted  the  posture  antl  formula  of  the  devout 
Hjuinianls.  An  old  and  ])artially  disabled  soldi<T,  nanu'd 
Torres,  agreed  to  remain  as  keeper  of  the  newly-conse- 
crated iemj)le,  on  the  departure  of  the  troops. 


rHK  ri.\i;<.!i 

MASSACi;! 


'I'll 

Cat 


The  bold 
hoLMU  to  set 
(iisi)atched  m 
lion  from  th 
1111(1,   with   tl 
inaiitlcd  and 
I   nerved  to  tin 
presontecl  the 

Leaving  a 
inoiieed  his  i 
body  of  Zemj 
and  Texucla, 
during  great 
mountains,  tl 

Xear  the  i 
with  repeated 
3o  onlerly  ai 
puted  with 
anionnted  to 
the.'Je  were  lui 
of  mortality  ■ 
charge  of  the 

Cortrarv  t( 


AIJOKUaNlvS  OF  MEXICO. 


CllAriKU   IV. 

THE    ri.MiCU    TO    TLASCALA — (>r(M;i'ATION    OK    TIIK    (ITV — (iKF.AT 

MASSACKE    AT    CHOI.lfl.A  —  KNTKAMK    INTO    TIIK    CITY    OF 

MKXICO,    AM)    INTKKVIKW    Willi    MONTEZt'MA  — 

OKSCKU'TION    OK    TIIK    TKM  I'l.i;,    KTC. 

"Whiit  (l':vii)'-  inonstciH,  Oh  yt'  <jnd«,  iire  thcho, 
'rii.it,  float  ill  air,  aiii<  liy  tij)')!!  the  scaH! 
Came  tlii-y  aiivi;  or  tii'a'l  upon  tin-  sliorf?" 

Dkvdk!*. 

TiiK  bold  and  adventurous  leader  of  tlie  Spaniards  now 
began  to  set  in  earnest  about  his  work  of  conquest,  lie 
liispatehed  one  ship  direct  for  Sj)ain,  to  obtain  a  eonlirma- 
tion  from  the  sovereign  of  his  authority  in  New  Sjiaiii; 
ami,  with  the  eonscMit  of  most  t)f  his  companions,  dis- 
mantled and  .sunk  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  that  all  might  l-e 
nerved  to  the  most  despenite  ell'orta  by  the  alteriuiivj 
presentcil  them  of  deatii  or  complete  success. 

Leaving  a  garrison  at  the  i:;}ast  settlement,  he  eom- 
nncne(Ml  his  march  into  the  interi(jr,  accompanied  by  a 
body  of  Zempoalans.  The  Indians  of  Jalapa,  Socochima, 
ai;d  Texucla,  ofU'ered  them  no  molestation,  and,  after  en- 
during great  ]iardshi})S  in  the  pa.ssage  of  the  rugged 
mountains,  the  army  reached  Zocothlan. 

\ear  the  religious  temples  of  this  town,  Diaz,  afhrms, 
with  repeated  asseverations,  that  lie  saw  human  skeletons, 
so  orderly  arranged,  that  th(;ir  numbers  could  be  com- 
IHitcd  with  certainty,  and  that  they  could  not  have 
anioimtcd  to  less  than  one  hundred  thousand.  Besi'le 
these  were  huge  j)ilesof  skulls  and  bones:  otluT  remnants 
of  mortality  were  hung  from  beams.  Three  pri^^sts  had 
charge  of  these  relics. 

Cortrary  to  the  advice  of  the  cacique  of  this  province, 


f   > 


"    ;  I  '■ 


t!     ||*''Ml''t:'! 


'ill' 


m 


fi 


I  rJ:'b-'  '^ 


78 


INDIAN   UACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


Cortcz  «li'tcrmiii('(l  to  pass  tlirou^fli  tlu^  couiitrv  of  Tlaa- 
calii,  wliiiSi;  iiiluibitiiiitH  were  iiiiiiiiciil  to  Montczuiau. 

Four  Zi'in{)()iiluii  Indians,  Jccki'd  out  in  the  style  dt'eined 
suitable  for  ambassadors,  and  bearing  arrows,  fcatlu^red 
with  white,  and  carried  point  downwards,  in  token  of  a 
peac(>ful  mission,  were  sent  to  wait  on  the  'ria>calaii 
authorities.  They  were  received  with  respect  by  the  sen- 
ate or  chief  council,  whose;  members  were  ranged  in  order, 
in  a  great  liall,  seated  ujion  low  chairs,  each  nuule  from  a 
single  block  of  some  remarkable  W(jo(I. 

(Jn.'at  dcl»ate  ensued  lus  to  whether  the  strangers  should 
l)c  jx.'rmitted  to  pass  through  the  country.  ()u  the  one 
hand,  ancient  prophecies  were  cited  of  an  invincible  race 
that  should  come  from  the  Ka.st.  The  remarkable  fulfil- 
mcnt  in  the  landing  of  these  white  men,  of  many  attend- 
ant circumstances  foretohl,  touching  the  ships,  arms,  and 
valor  of  the  invaders,  wius  enlarged  U])on,  and  it  was  pro- 
nounced madness  to  cope  with  them.  On  the  .other  hand, 
it  was  suggested  that  the  Spaniards  inight  be  nothing  bet- 
ter than  "monsters  Hung  up  by  the  sea  uj)on  the  eoa.sts." 
and,  if  not,  that  their  saeriK'ge  and  cruelties  forbade  tin; 
idea  that  they  could  be  other  than  evil  and  avaricious 
barbarians,  who  should  be  crushed  as  noxious  reptiles. 

it  was  concluded  to  try  the  strength  of  the  whites,  and, 
if  they  eould  not  be  resisted,  tlie  assault  should  be  attri- 
buted to  the  intraetibility  of  the  Ott(jmies,  a  nation  of 
rude  and  warlike  mountaineers. 

Tlu!  lesult  might  ri'adily  be  foreseen:  no  force,  liow- 
ever  overwhelming  in  numbers,  could  resist  the  lire-arms, 
the  discipline,  and  more  esj)eeially  the  horses  of  the  Sj^an- 
iards.  'JMiese  animals  "(supernatural  or  monstrous  in 
their  imagination)"  so  t(U'ri(ied  the  Indians,  that  they  trod 
one  another  under  foot  in  ellbrts  to  escape  from  the  rush 
of  the  little  corps  of  cavalry.  In  several  engagenienta, 
although  under  advantageous  ciicumstances,  as  in  ambus- 


. 


CI 


cades  an<l 
vast  numbt 
to  strike  1 
of  fourteci 
own  peopl 
followers  w 

Montezui 
scngers  to 
thcr  advaiK 
elusion  of  a  ] 
ellbrts    i'ailci 
op])osiiig  for 
;ui  ainicnblc 

With   grc; 

;iniiy  into  th 

(bM9).     Th( 

tainous,  givin 

iiigs  were  sul 

the  army  tan 

lulu,  a  great  c 

they  set  out, 

iiounce  his  lii 

I'nr  the  Spani: 

Several  thoi 

tarily  oll'ci'cd 

Cholula  with( 

town  ni(>t  th( 

allies,  as  they 

agreed  that  t 

he  (piartered 

the  suburbs. 

and  higher  at 

)>lace  before  v 

t'uriiished  pro 

tinallv  diseont 


'!! 


AHOUIGINKS  OF  MKXICO. 


79 


cados  ami  iii^lit  attacks,  tho  Tlascalaiis  were  roiittMl,  ami 
viust  nuiubers  oC  their  warriors  were  .slauirlitcrf  .1.  Corte/,, 
to  strike  further  terror,  cut  olT  the  hands  (»r  thiiiid)S 
of  fourteen  or  fifteen  captives,  and  sent  tht-ni  to  their 
own  jK'ople  to  report  what  manner  i>f  nu'ii  he  and  his 
followers  were. 

Montezuma,  hearin,!^  of  tliesc  successes,  sent  more  mea- 
senjicrs  to  endeavor  to  ])ersuade  Cortez  not  to  make  fur- 
ther advance,  and  at  tlie  same  time  to  oltstruct  tiu'  con- 
clusion of  a  ])eavje  between  liim  and  the  'riascalans.  These 
etforts  failed  signally:  Xicotencal,  the  general  of  the 
opposing  forces,  in  behalf  of  the  town  aud  nation,  made 
an  aniieable  settlement  (jf  dinieulti''s  witli  the  Sjianiards. 

With  great  pomp  ;uh1  ceremony.  Cortex  marched  iiis 
;iniiy  into  thy  town  of  Tlascala,  on  the  2-)d  of  September, 
(b')l!*).  'i'he  situation  of  the  place  was  rugged  and  moun- 
tainous, giving  the  streets  great  irregularity ;  but  the  build- 
ings were  substantial,  and  the  fortiliealious  massive.  Ibu'e 
the  uriny  tarrie(l  twentv  davs,  and  then  ir.ar-jhed  for  Clio- 
lula,  a  great  city,  entirely  subject  to  the"  em)ieror.  Jielbre 
they  set  out,  Monte/.uma  hail  again  sent  heralds  to  an- 
ii(Hinc(!  his  final  consent  to  a  meeting,  and  that  (piarters 
tor  the  Sj)anisli  troops  sliould  be  maile  reailv  at  Cholula. 

Sev<'ral  thousand  'riascalans,  armed  and  e(pii])j)e(l,  volun- 
tarily olfered  their  services,  and  the  wh«;le  armv  ri'ac]ie(l 
Cliolula  without  molestation.  lien.*  the  magnates  of  tin? 
town  met  tluMU,  obj(>cting  to  the  entrance  of  the  Indian 
allies,  as  they  had  birn  enemies  of  the  nation;  and  it  w;us 
agreed  that  the  Sj)aniar(ls  and  Zemjioalans  alom;  should 
be  (piartered  in  tl.'c  city,  while  tlie  n  st  sliould  encamp  in 
the  sul)urbs.  Ilen^  were  seen  evidences  of  greater  wealth, 
and  higher  attainments  in  areliitectural  skill,  than  at  any 
place  before  visited.  The  caciques  appeared  friendly,  and 
I'liniishcd  provisions  for  the  troojis  for  several  davs;  but 
liiially  discontinued  both  tlieir  visits  and  sup{)lies.     Thia 


n 


i  I 


1  f'Tl  '' 


I' 


'in '' 


'i  ' 


U 


\    I'lj^if' 


fi  I' 


■'In  I 


80 


INDIAN    HACKS  OK  AMKKICA. 


uroiiscd  the  suspicions  of  Cortc/,  jiiid  lie  (li'tcrinincd  to 
iniiiiitain  tlio  ntrii('>t  vi^'ihiiu'c. 

At  tliis  JMiictiirc  an  old  woman  of"  rank  came  to  Marina, 
f'T  wliMMi  she  liad  contracted  i^rcat  friendship,  and  bcjr^^fcil 
lici-  to  (orsaki!  the.  Spaniards,  and  come  to  Hvc  with  her 
an<l  her  friends.  Marina,  ever  on  tht;  watch  to  serve  lier 
lord  and  master,  pretended  compliance,  and,  by  judicious 
(pic.slions,  elicited  from  the  old  woman  all  th(!  )>articulai's 
of  a  formidable  ])lot  for  the  destruction  of  the  Spaniaids. 
Monte/Jima  had  sent  twenty  thousand  m(>n  into  the  vicin- 
itv,  part  of  whom  were  alivady  scc^retly  brought  within  the 
walls;  pit-IJdls  with  sharj)  stakes  at  the  InHtom  had  been 
jirepared  in  the  principal  highways  for  the  destruction  of 
the  horses;  and  stones  were  piled  on  tlu;  roofs  of  the  liouses 
to  luii'I  ilowii  upon  the  de\(/t('d  army,  Diaz  says:  "'J'he 
recompense  which  they  inUuided  for  our  liolvand  friendly 
siu'vices  was  to  kill  us  and  eat  uh,  for  which  ])urpose  th«; 
pots  were  already  boiling,  and  prepared  with  salt,  ])ej)per 
and  tomatas."  Severn  human  victims  had  been  sacriliceil 
to  j)ropitiate  the  favor  of  th(!  j^'ods,  and  it  was  j)ui-j)oscd  to 
devot(!  twenty  of  the  S])aniards  to  the  same  fate,  as  soon 
lUM  they  could  be  secured. 

All  these  thini^'S  were  confirmed  by  asearchiuf^  examin- 
ation of  some  of  the  caciques,  who,  surprised  at  the  super- 
natural |)enetratit>n  of  the  Spaniards,  confes.sed  the  whole, 
but  attributed  it  entirely  to  Montezuma.  With  liis  usual 
duplicity,  Cortez  sjioke  of  this  consj)iraey  in  confidence  to 
the  amba.ssadors  from  the  court,  pretendinf?  that  tie  liad 
no  suspicion  of  the  part  Montezuma  had  taken.     lie  then 


^ave  j)id)lic  orders  for  marchin,<^  on  the  ensuinj:^  day,  in 
order  to  ]irecij)itatc  the  hostile  movement,  but,  at  tlu^  same 
time,  had  all  his))lans  arran^^^ed  for  battle,  and  intelli^'CTico 
conveyed  to  his  Tlascalaii  troops  to  be  ready  to  assist  him 
at  tlie  dawniiif^  of  day. 

"With  the  fii'st  li'dit  all  was  in  motion;  tlie  Cholulans 


appointed  t 
on  pretenr 
ui><in  the  i( 
At  a  '/\\i- 
coliunenced 
Imiis  of  ih<' 

t'lUtl,    wliM 

and  pluiidri 
tez  at  last  c 
tlie  jihinder 
ereil  up,  pro 
fp'c  the  unfl 
fo  he  f;itfene( 
\iu('e  l|i(!  pri 
irious  rites  ai 
(^liolula  w 
hotli  fir  its  b 
tion  as  the  I 
The  immense 
Piihiect  of  adi 
Montezuma 
oftheSjianiar 
J)r(»,L'-iiosticatio 
si'irit,  and  he 
t'>  ^'ortez  to  V 
stantly  (gained 
^vllit<>    men    n 
iiLTainst  whom 
Fourteen  dr 
^v;is  airain    pui 
fiiissed  at  their 
hy  'I'lasealans, 
d.in.rer  and  j)n 
tli(!  rou^di  moi 
pnlh,  strong  Ik 
6 


AnoKKMN'KS  OF  MKXH'O. 


Rl 


appointo'l  to  carry  tlic  hagf^age,  aful  tluisf  win*  cniuf"  :inin>d 
oil  jM'ctoiuv  nl'  actiiiju'  as  a  ^'uanl,  hut,  in  n'tility,  Id  I'all 
upon  tlif  ft'ai'  "('  tlif  army,  poiirc*!  into  the  ^'n-at  st|iiar«'. 
;\t  a  ;.'ivcii  siirnal  Iroiii  C'ortc/,  a  liorril)!*'  nia.-safrc  was 
(•(iniiiu'iK'i'il,  which  contiiMifd  for  two  (hiys.  The  'I'la.-ca- 
laiis  dl"  tlic  party,  ri'iii  forced  hv  truiltitinh's  (Voin  tlnir  own 
town,  who  catni^  at  tlio  first  news  of  the  attack,  ravaiicil 
aii'l  phiinli'rc(l  the  city  with  unrestrained  })arharity.  Cor- 
tr/  at  last  ciiei'kcd  these  ontra^'cs,  and  conij>cinn,L,'  snch  "f 
the  phinder  and  prisoners  as  he  could  discover  to  he  deliv- 
ered up,  proclaiinc(l  peace  and  general  amnesty.  lie  set 
free  the  unfortunate  prisoners,  who  wen;  confined  in  ca^cs 
to  he  fattened  fi)r  sacrifice,  and  vainly  endeavored  to  con- 
viiH'i'  the  priests  and  people  (*f  the  enormity  of  their  reli- 
f'ious  rites  and  the  truth  of  his  own  doctrines. 

n 

riiolula  was  one  of  the  most  noted  cities  c^f  Mexico, 
hoth  for  its  heauty  of  Kituation  and  structure,  and  its  posi- 
tion as  tlu!  head-(iuarters  of  the  relin-ion  of  tlie  eountr\'. 
The  itnniense  hill  or  tcniple  of  sacrifice  lias  ever  hceu  the 
Fuhjeet  of  .adiniration  and   asfonishtncnt  to  all  heholders, 

Moiite/.urn:i  dared  no  lon;^fer  oj>enly  oppose  tli<'  advance 
ef  tlie  Spaniards.  The  ter?'«)r  of  their  arms  anil  the  ;.dooniv 
pro,Lrnostic.'itions  of  tlx*  jiriest.s  cowed  and  stihdueil  his 
spirit,  and  he  sent  me.^^sen^ers  with  ^\(\h  and  iii\  itations 
to  Cortez  to  visit  his  court,  'i'he  geiuTal  imj)re.<sion  eon- 
stanth  L'ained  ground  amon<f  tlu^  Mexicans  that  these 
whit<^  nuMi  must  be  "Teules,"  or  supernatural  heings, 
au^ainst  whom  it  were  hopeless  ojjenly  to  contenrl. 

Fourteen  days  after  the  arrival  at  Cholula,  the  army 
was  au^ain  ])Ut  in  moti(Ui.  The  Zempoalans  were  dis- 
missed at  tlieir  own  request,  and  their  places  were  .supplied 
hy  Tlascalana,  who  were  ready  by  thousands  to  shan>  the 
damper  and  profit  of  the  exj>edition.  On  the  mnri'h  over 
the  rou'^h  mountainous  district  through  which  lay  their 
path,  strong  bodies  of  Mexicans  had  been  ]>laccd  in  am- 


i' 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


82 


INDIAX  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


mM 


iM'!|'; 


dl 


I: 


1!  ;'i 


h'tS' 


4W 


m  '• 


y 


t\-A'i 


■■!!■     I 


f.  I' 


busli  by  tlic  order  of  the  king,  but  their  hearts  faileu  them 
on  the  approach  of  the  invaders.  Cortez  reached  Chulco, 
near  the  imperial  city,  not  only  without  serious  opposition, 
but  with  his  forces  increased  by  as  many  natives  of  the 
provinces  tlirough  which  he  passed,  as  lie  chose  to  enlist 
under  his  banners.  Enchantments  and  conjurations,  to 
Avhich  Montezuma  applied  himself,  with  his  whole  corps 
of  magicians,  proved  as  ineffectual  as  his  armies  to  arrest 
the  enemy.  It  was  still  his  purpose  and  hope,  as  the  in- 
vaders well  knew,  to  overwhelm  and  destroy  them  at  a 
disadvantage,  when  they  should  enter  his  city. 

The  Spaniards  reached  Iztapalapa,  on  the  great  lake  in 
which  the  city  of  Mexico  was  built,  without  further  blood- 
shed, except  the  destruction  of  a  few  poor  Indians  wlio 
approached  "too  near  "  the  encampment  at  Amemeca,  prob- 
ably from  motives  of  curiosity.  The  lord  of  Tezcuco,  upon 
the  north-eastern  border  of  the  lake,  a  neph-^w  of  the  em- 
peror, visited  them  on  their  route  with  solemn  ceremony. 

Izttipalapa  was  built  partly  in  the  lake,  although  the 
receding  waters  have  left  the  site  mostly  dry.  The  appear- 
ance of  the  place  was  truly  Venetian.  Over  the  broad 
expanse  of  water  were  seen  the  towers  and  buildings  of 
numerous  towns,  at  beholding  which,  together  with  the 
great  causey  which  led  to  the  island  city,  the  Europeans, 
in  the  words  of  Diaz,  "could  compare  it  to  nothing  Init 
the  enchanted  scenes  read  of  in  Amadis  of  Gaul,  from  the 
great  towers  and  temples  and  other  edifices  of  lime  and 
stone  which  seemed  to  rise  out  of  the  water."  "Never 
yet,"  he  adds,  "did  man  see,  hear,  or  dream  of  anything 
equal  to  the  spectacle  which  appeared  to  our  eyes  on 
this  day." 

The  lords  of  the  city  a.ssigned  splendid  buildings  of 
stone  for  the  troops  to  quarter  in;  and  such  was  their 
astonishment  at  the  perfection  of  the  architectural  skill  dis- 
played in  the  palac&s ;  the  beauty  of  the  gardens ;  the  alleys 


')^H 


'V  '\f, 


ABOKKilXES  OF  MEXICO. 


83 


of  fruit  and  aromatic  trees;  tlic  fountains,  aqueducts,  and 
artificial  pools;  and  the  vast  concourse  of  curious  natives, 
crowding  the  street  and  cause j  to  gaze  on  the  novel 
sight,  or  skimming  the  water  in  their  light  canoes,  that 
"to  many  it  appeared  doubtful  whether  they  were  asleep 
or  awake." 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  November,  1519,  Cor- 
tez  led  his  followers  over  the  main  causey  into  the  impe- 
rial city.  A  great  deputation  of  nobles  and  officers  came 
out  to  meet  him,  and  escorted  the  army  into  the  city.  The 
streets  were  empty,  that  the  ceremony  of  the  royal  audience 
ii\ight  not  be  impeded;  but  windows  and  balconies  were 
t'nronged  with  eager  spectators. 

Montezuma  now  appeared,  borne  in  a  glittering  palan- 
quin, and  accompanied  by  his  chief  oflicers,  magnihccntly 
adorned,  and  disj)laying  in  their  downcast  looks  and  silent 
ol)sequiousness  the  reverence  in  which  they  lield  their 
monarch.  As  he  dismounted  and  walked  to  meet  Cortez. 
leaning  on  his  relatives,  the  lords  of  Tczcuco  and  Iztapa- 
Inpa,  attendants  spread  carpets  before  him. 

With  unheard-of  condescension  and  expression  of  respect, 
the  king  saluted  the  Spanish  commander  in  Mexican  style, 
stooping  and  touching  the  ground  with  his  hand,  and  then 
raising  it  to  his  lips.  He  wore  a  robe  of  fine  cotton, 
adorned  with  gems,  golden  sandals,  and  a  light  crown  of 
gold  supporting  the  ornamental  circle  of  plumes,  esteemed 
the  most  graceful  head-dress.  lie  was  about  forty  years 
of  age,  of  light  complexion,  and  of  majestic  aspect  and 
demeanor. 

Cortez  advanced,  and  placing  a  showy  necklace  round  the 
monarch's  neck,  would  have  embraced  him,  but  was  gently 
restrained  by  the  attendant  lords — such  familiarity  being 
deemed  unsuitable  to  their  sovereign's  greatness. 

After  mutual  friendly  speeches,  the  whole  throng  pro- 
ceeded to  the  palaces  set  apart  for  the  Spaniards'  use,  and 


^    I 


I' 


|. 


,y 


^ 


fpi 
% 


1.^ 


iM 


4 

m 


II! 


i<i:;^ 


^iM' 


% 


.!i   !  f 


!  I  ti 


lli    <■ 


fm'i 


rii  •'! 


'V,J' 


84 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Montezuma,  leading  Cortcz  by  the  hand,  conducted  hira 
to  his  apartment,  and  placed  about  his  neck  a  golden  collar. 

During  the  week  succeeding  the  entry  into  Mexico,  cere- 
monious visits  were  interchanged  by  Cortcz  and  the  em- 
peror. The  Mexican  prince  conducted  his  guests  through 
the  royal  palaces  and  gardens,  and,  in  their  company, 
visited  the  great  temple  of  sacrilico.  The  historians  of 
that  day  can  find  no  language  strong  enough  to  express 
the  wonder  and  admiration  which  the  magnificent  spec- 
tacle excited  in  the  minds  of  the  Spanish  beholders.  The 
pomp  and  state  of  the  monarch;  his  crowd  of  obsequious 
attendants;  his  pleasure  houses,  aqueducts,  fountains,  and 
gardens  of  odoriferous  shrubs;  the  extent  of  his  wealth 
in  jewels  and  the  precious  metals;  his  store  of  arms,  and 
the  numbei  of  his  skilful  artisans,  are  described  and  en- 
larged upon  at  great  length. 

It  remains  to  this  day  a  matter  of  astonishment  that 
such  huge  buildings  of  hewn  stone,  as  every  where  met 
the  eye  in  the  ancient  city,  could  have  been  erected  with- 
out the  use  of  iron.  Copper,  hardened  by  an  alloy  of  tin, 
was  the  only  metal  of  which  the  tools  were  made  by  which 
the  hard  rock  was  laboriously  shaped. 

The  indignation  and  horror  excited  by  the  bloody 
religious  rites  of  the  country,  led  Cortcz  to  strive  contin- 
ually to  impreas  upon  the  mind  of  his  host  the  folly  and 
absurdity  of  his  religion.  The  only  good  efiect  that  is 
said  to  have  resulted  from  these  arguments  was  the  aban- 
donment, on  the  part  of  the  king,  of  the  custom  of  hav- 
ing human  flesb.  set  upon  his  own  table. 

The  principal  temple  is  minutely  described,  and  must, 
indeed,  have  presented  a  singular  scene  of  horror  and 
magnificence.  It  was  surrounded  by  a  wall,  faced  with 
wreathed  serpents,  carved  in  stone,  the  gateways  to  which 
were  sui-mounted  with  statues.  The  roof  of  the  main 
building  was  flat,  and  paved  with  beautifully  polished 


■'IS    . 


ABOUEGINES  OF  MKXICO. 


85 


stones;  and  tlicreon  appcarod  two  hideous  idols,  seated 
u]iuri  thrones  of  state  in  all  the  splendor  of  barbaric  orna- 
ment; while  before  them  stood  the  terrible  stone  of  saeii- 
liee.  This  was  a  green  nriass  of  rock,  live  spans  hiiih, 
presenting  a  sharp  angle  at  the  top,  over  which  the  miser- 
able victims  were  stretched,  while  the  priest  gashed  open 
the  living  body  with  a  rude  knife  of  flint,  and  tore  out 
the  j)alpitating  heart.  "I  devoted  them  and  all  their 
wickedness,"  says  Diaz,  "to  (jod's  vengeance,  and  thought 
tliat  the  time  would  never  arrive  that  I  should  escape 
from  this  scene  of  human  butchery,  horrible  smells,  and 
more  detestable  sights."  lie  tells  of  an  apartment  filled 
witli  wild  animals  and  venomous  reptiles,  who  were  fed 
with  the  sacrificial  flesh.  Of  these,  the  most  dangerous  ser- 
pents had  "in  their  tails  somewhat  that  sounds  like  casti- 
ncts." — -"These  beasts  and  hori-id  reptiles  were  retained  to 
keep  company  with  their  infernal  Gods,  and  when  these 
animals  yelled  and  hissed,  the  palace  seemed  like  hell 
itself"  From  this  elevation,  a  beautiful  view  was  ob- 
tained of  the  whole  of  the  great  salt  lake  in  which  the 
city  stood,  the  towns  of  the  vicinity,  the  long  and  well- 
built  cause3\s  connecting  them,  and  the  magnilicent  moun- 
tains beyond. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  relate  the  ceremonies  of  the  royal 
court,  although  many  of  them  are  singular,  and  well 
worth  the  examination  of  those  who  would  obtain  a  com- 
plete knowledge  of  a  time  and  people  varying  so  widely 
from  any  thing  now  known  on  earth.  Among  ^[onte- 
zuina's  means  of  luxury  or  relaxation  were  the  habits  of 
smoking  tobacco,  drinking  a  fermented  liquor  of  no  little 
potency,  and  listening  to  the  remarks  of  a  set(\f  buffoons 
whom  he  kept  about  him,  in  the  same  capacit_j  as  that  of 
the  court-fools  of  a  past  age  in  Europe. 

An  analogy  to  rites  and  customs  of  the  Old  World, 
no  less  striking,   was   noticed  in  many  of  the  popular 


.1  i'^j .  \ 

J  1 

i  1  *' : 

_» 

( 

h  ' 

'I  i^ 


■I  :     I 


1 

.1 

r  1 

i 

i  i 

j 
i: 

1 

t            ;  •  i 

W 


w: 


,'f 


;!i » 


li    > 


!.. 


!i  'i 


:W 


:  - ! 


m 


*,  '  I  51 


1;!:: 


'  si  if 


!:.|i:;!F 


86 


LNJ>!AN  UACEri  OF  AMERICA. 


relif^io'is  oUscrvaiiccs.  "Jt  should  seem  that  the  Devil," 
iis  1)0  S(;lis  has  it,  "the  Jnvcntor  of  these  Hiles,  was 
ambitions  to  imitate  l>aj)tism  and  Cireumcisioii,  with 
the  same  j)ri<.le  with  wliieh  Ik;  endeavored  to  eounterfeit 
the  othei-  Ceremonies,  and  even  the  Sat-raments  of  the 
('athoiie  Chureh ;  sinee  he  inti'ochieed  among  tliese  J^)arbar- 
ians  the  (,'onl'ession  of  Sins,  f^iving  them  to  understand 
that  thei'eby  they  obtained  the  Favor  of  tlieir  Gods.  He 
instituted  likewise  a  ridiculous  sort  of  Communion,  which 
the  J*riests  administei'cd  u])OU  certain  iJays  in  the  Year, 
dividing  into  small  Bits  an  Idol  made  of  Flower,  mix'd 
up  into  a  L'ast  with  honey,  which  they  called  t/ir.  (Sod  of 
Penitence.''^ — "Nay,  they  even  gave  their  chief  Priests  the 
title  of  Papas  in  their  Language;  by  which  we  find  that 
this  Imitation  cost  Satan  a  very  particular  study  and 
application." 

Marriages  wei-e  performed  by  the  priest's  tying  the 
veil  of  the  woman  to  a  portion  of  the  man's  dress,  after 
certain  prescribed  preliminaries.  In  this  guise  the  pair 
walked  home  together,  and  concluded  the  ceremony  In' 
pacing  seven  times  round  the  domestic  hearth,  Divorces 
were  at  the  discretion  of  the  parties,  and  when  they  tool: 
[)lace,  the  sons  belonged  to  the  man,  the  daughters  to  the 
woman.  Hasty  separations  w^ere  guarded  against  by  a 
provision  that,  should  they  again  cohabit  after  having 
once  broken  the  bond  of  union,  both  should  be  put  to 
death.  In  some  instances,  on  the  death  of  the  husband, 
his  wife  would  immolate  herself,  according  to  the  custom, 
until  re(;ently,  so  prevalent  in  India. 


ABOliUJIXKS  OF  MKXICO.  87 

CHAriHU  V. 

srJZV'HE    AND    IMIMUSONMKNT    OF    MONTKZT.'MA — EXRCIJTION    OF 

QT'AI.I'OI'OCA  ANU  HIS  CO.MrAMDNS OMINOUS    I'KOSPKCTS 

KXl'KMniON     OF"      I'AMl'HILO     UK      NAIIVAKZ SLTCKSS     OK 

COKTKZ  AGAINST  HIM liKTt'liN   To  MKXICO OUTKACK 

BV   AI.VAIiADO,  AND  CONSKiiCKNT  TROUHI.KS DKATH 

OF  MONTEZUMA — TlIK  "Nm  UK  TIMSTK  " — HATTI,K 
OK    OKTUMliA,    AND    AIMllVAr,    AT    TI.ASCAI.A. 

"And  soiiiuIh  tliat  miiifflcd  l.'iu<rli — ;iri(l  shout — and  scream — 
To  tVee/e  tlui  l)l()()d  i:i  unv.  (lisciirdant  jar, 
lluiijf  to  the  pealiiiy  thuiiderliolts  ul'  war." 

CAMrBEI.I.. 

CoHTEZ  was  not  yet  satisfi:xl;  he  felt  his  situation  to  be 
precarious,  and  tliat  liis  objcet  woul<l  not  l)e  fully  aceorn- 
plished  until  he  liad  acquired  eompleto  mastery  over  the 
inhabitants  of  the  imperial  city.  VVlnle  he  was  on  his 
march  to  Mexico,  Juan  de  Escalente,  commander  of  the 
garrison  lefl  at  Vera  Cruz,  had,  with  six  other  Spaniards, 
jKM'ished  in  a  broil  with  the  natives.  One  soldier  was 
taken  prisoner,  but  dying  of  his  wounds,  his  captors  car- 
ried his  head  to  Montezuma.  The  ti-o})hy  proved  an  ob- 
ject of  terror  to  the  king,  who  trembled  as  he  looked  on 
the  marks  of  manlv  strength  which  its  contour  and  thick 
curled  beard  betokened,  and  ordered  it  from  his  presence. 

Cortoz  knew  of  these  events  when  at  ('holula,  but  had 
kept  them  concealed  from  most  of  his  people,  lie  now 
adduced  them,  in  select  council  of  his  oHicers,  as  reason — ■ 
with  other  matters — for  the  bold  step  he  purposed.  This 
was  to  seize  the  person  of  Montezuma. 

On  the  eighth  day  after  the  arrival  at  the  city,  Cortez 
took  with  him  Alvarado,  Velasquez  de  Leon,  Avila,  San- 
doval, and  Francisco  de  Lujo,  and,  ordering  a  number  of 
liis  soldiers  to  keep  in  his  vicinity,  proceeded  to  the  royal 


I 


\ 


t  i 


)  .  i 


r 


0 


I 

i  <i^ 

H'  i 

\l 

J  i^^ 


yii 


fi  ■; 


ii'1  : . 


Z\^'i^ 


i,  ■!" 


I:!!, 


i 

1            k 

1 

^ 


88 


INDIAN  JtACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


palace.  He  coiivcrsi.'d  witli  Montezuma  conccniing  tlio 
attack  ou  tlie  garrison  at  the  coast,  and  professed  belief  in 
the  Mexican  prince's  asseverations  that  h(!  had  no  part  in 
it;  V)Ut  added  that,  to  (piiet  all  suspic;ion  on  the  ]»art 
of  the  great  emperor  of  tiie  East,  it  would  be  best  fur 
him  to  remove  to  the  Spanish  quarters!  Montezuma  saw 
at  once  the  degradation  to  which  he  was  called  U])(>n  to 
submit,  but  looking  on  the  fierce  Spaniards  arountl  him, 
.'md  hearing  an  interpretation  of  their  threats  to  dispatch 
liju  immediately  if  he  (bd  not  comply,  he  sulfered  himself 
to  be  conducted  to  the  palace  occu])ied  by  his  false  fricnils. 

To  hide  his  disgrace  from  his  subjects,  the  unhapj)y 
monarch  assured  the  astonished  concourse  in  the  streets 
that  he  went  of  his  own  free  will.  Cortez,  while  he  kejit 
his  prisoner  secure  by  a  constant  and  vigilant  guard, 
allowed  him  to  preserve  all  the  outward  tokens  of  royaltv. 

Meanwhile,  (.iualpopoca,  the  governor  of  the  district 
where  Jnan  do  Kscalente  lost  his  life,  was  sent  for,  to- 
gcthcr  with  his  associate  olficers.  AVhen  they  arrived, 
Cortez  was  allowed  by  Montezuma  to  punish  them  at  hi.s 
own  discretion,  and  the  inhuman  monster  cansed  them  to 
be  burned  alive  in  the  sight  of  the  populace.  I'hc  fuel 
used  for  this  pur|)Ose  consisted  of  the  royal  stores  of  arrows, 
darts,  and  other  warlike  implements.  Still  further  to  quell 
the  spirit  of  the  king,  fetters  were  placed  upon  his  ankles 
during  the  execution  of  this  cruel  sentence. 

The  i)eople  of  Mexico  could  not  be  blinded  to  the  true 
position  of  their  sovereign,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
ominous  signs  appeared  of  a  general  determination  to 
avenge  his  wrongs,  and  vindicate  the  insulted  honor  of  the 
nation.  The  young  lord  of  the  ancient  and  powerful  city 
of  Tezcuco  was  foremost  in  arousing  this  spirit  of  resist- 
ance, but  by  artifice  and  treachery  he  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Spaniards,  and  his  brother  was  proclaimed  gov- 
ernor in  his  stead. 


The  king  wa; 
himself  a  sul)i 
en'd  up  tv>  Cort 
'   accoi'ding  to  ( 
dollars,  as  a  p 
j)ortion  of  this 
tlie  rest  was  di 
ollicei's  approp 
The  next  mc 
mollies  of  wor 
as  the  palace  of 
sitioii,  a  {)ortioi 
temjile  was  set 
iiitics  of  their 
the  stone  of  sac 
At  these  sac 
became  more  an 
his  opjiressors  o! 
ilcclaring  that  i: 
])oop]e  would  ri: 
the  hated  white 
have  been  distr; 
most  conflicting 
he  had  contractc 
while  he  must  h; 
placed  upon  his 
was  now  but  a  tc 
his  dominions, 
excited  sympath 
exact(>d  the  utmc 
ti\'e  from  all  aroi 
The  prudent  g 
tion  against  an 
against  liis  retre 
had  two  vessels  1 


ABOltlGlNES  OF  MKXICO. 


8U 


The  king  was  hrought  so  low  as  to  consent  to  ac^knowKid^^o 
himself  a  subject  of  tlic  Spanish  cinpcn^r;  and  he  Jellv- 
eivd  up  toCorte/  treasures  of  j^old  and  sihcr  tothe  amount, 
iK.'cording  to  conn)utati()ii,  of  tnoi'c  than  six  millions  of 
(l(jllars,  as  a  present  to  his  new  sovereij^Mi.  l)Ut  a  small 
porti(;n  of  this  wealth  was  ivsd-vrd  to  he  sent  to  Spain; 
the  rest  was  divided  among  the  conipierors,  the  chicls  and 
ollieei's  a[)pro})riating  the  lion's  share 

The  next  movement  was  to  cstahlish  the  Christian  cere- 
monies of  worship  upon  the  vi-iy  site  so  long  venerated 
a.s  the  palace  of  the  great  god  of  war,  MXi'v  strong  oppo- 
sition, a  {)ortion  of  the  area  on  the  sunnnit  of  the  chirf 
temjile  was  set  apart  for  the  S})aniarils'  use  in  the  solem- 
nities of  their  religion,  while  the  blood-stained  idol  and 
the  sto!ie  of  sacrifice  nuuntaiiu;d  their  old  })osition. 

At  these  sacrilegious  innovations  the  whole  ])opulace 
becanu.'  more  and  more  exasperated.  Montezuma  warned 
his  oppressors  of  the  storm  that  would  break  upon  them, 
declaring  that  if  he  should  but  give  the  sign,  his  whole 
people  woul'i  rise  as  one  man  to  release  him  and  destroy 
the  hated  \vhites.  The  unfortunate  monarch  seems  to 
have  been  distracted  and  overcome  by  emotions  of  the 
most  conflicting  nature.  For  some  of  the  Spanish  oflicers 
he  had  contracted  no  small  degree  of  personal  attachment, 
while  he  must  have  felt  continuallv  galled  bv  the  restraint 
placed  upon  his  person,  and  by  the  consciousness  that  Ik; 
was  now  but  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  the  proud  invaders  of 
his  dominions.  The  mildness  and  dignitv  of  his  demeanor 
excited  sympathy  and  respect  from  his  jailors,  and  Corn^z 
exacted  the  utmost  deference  and  respect  towards  his  cap- 
tive from  all  around  him. 

The  prudent  general  saw  the  necessity  for  every  precau- 
tion against  an  attack  from  the  natives,  and,  to  guard 
against  his  retreat  being  cut  ofl",  on  such  a  contingency, 
had  two  vessels  built  and  furnished  from  the  stores  saved 


i|i 


I 


fll 


I  i|; 


■'.i; 


f 


i:if' 


r- 


W: 


■'hi 


'f|1":'i 


90 


IN  1)1  AX  RACKS  OF  AMHIUCA. 


from  tln>  (lisiniuiU(;(l  flcM;t.  Tiiviii;^  upon  an  island,  it  \v:w 
in  the  power  of  tiio  natives  at  any  tiino  to  drstioy  tlio 
bridges  and  causovM,  ])y  wliii^h  alono  there  was  eotninuiii- 
cation  with  the  main. 

At  this  ei'isis,  when  all  liis  ener^i(\s  \v(>re  rctpiin'd  to 
resist  the  fnry  ol'  an  outraged  mullitnde  of  harhariaiis 
ai'oiiml  him,  ('orte/  hcartl  of  danirer  fi'om  another  soni'cc, 
whit'h  moved  liim  more;  de(^])ly  than  any  hostilities  ori  tin; 
part  of  the  Mexicans. 

^rhe  jealous  Cuban  ;^ovcrnor,  Yelasrpiez;,  enraged  at  lii.s 
presum])tion  in  throwing  o(F  the  authority  under  which  Ik: 
had  sailed,  lltte(l  (jiit  u  formiihible  armamcMit  to  overthrow 
till!  newly-a('ipiii-(,'(l  power  of  Ccji'te/,.  The  fleet  under  the 
connnand  of  Pamphilo  de  Xarvae/  reached  the  Mexicim 
coiust,  and  news  of  its  arrival  were  conveyed  to  Cortez  in 
the  month  ol'  May,  1")20. 

With  his  usual  decision  and  ])romptness,  the  gentn'ril 
divided  his  forces,  and  leaving  the  largc^r  portion  under 
Alvarado  to  maintain  possession  of  the  ea])ital,  he  marched 
to  check  the  advance  of  Narvacz.  By  the  b(^ldness  of  a 
night  attack,  followed  u))  by  the  most  consummate  policy 
in  winning  (;ver  the  good  wishes,  and  exciting  the  cupidity 
of  the  newly-arrived  army,  lie  converted  his  enemies  to 
friends,  and,  placing  the  leader  in  confinement,  liastencd 
back  to  the  city  with  Ids  powerful  auxiliaries.  Ilis  return 
was  timely  indeed.  Alvarado  had  been  guilty  of  an  act 
of  barbarity,  (whether  caused  by  avarice,  by  a  supposed 
nec(\ssit.y,  or  by  a  desire  to  ape  the  valiant  achievement,- 
of  his  master,  cannot  now  be  ascertained,)  wliich  had 
brought  down  upon  him  and  his  garrison  the  fury  and 
indignation  (jf  the  wdiolc  Aztec  nation. 

Uj)on  an  occasion  of  great  public  ceremonials  at  the 
Teocalli,  or  temple,  at  which  were  gathered  a  great  con- 
course of  the  nobility  and  chiefs,  the  Spaniards,  jilacing 
a  guard  at  the  gates  of  the  outer  w^all,  mingled  with  tho 


-'j 


r 


unanuetl  eomp;! 
and  murdered  e\ 

A  gemiral  rus 
liiwcd  this  event 
Moiitf/.uma  him 
uvj:,  who,  knowin 
he  j)res(M'ved  in 
licar.  'I'hey  tlnu 
iIr-  garrison,  an 
some  water. 

It  was  on  St. 
Cortrz  h'-entercMl 
ili'Serted,  and  wit 
tu  tlie  Spanish  ]);i 
wvcrjoyeil  at  the 
lirctliren  with  ope 
rado's  ctMiduct,  ai 
petulance,  at  the 
imliilged  in  eontci 

The  state  of  on 
lint  continue  loii^ 
destroying  the  bri 
under  De  Ordas,  \ 
ji  driven  back,  with 
.Siieli  ennvds  of  n 
concealment,  that 
mass,  while  from  1 
oiis  and  missiles 
beads  of  the  Span 

Surrounding  th 
every  endeavor  to 
ings,  the  wild  hor 
assault,  with  desp( 

Cortez  attem])te 
lowing  day,  but  h 


I    ...i''il=!,. 


if 


\HOiafjINKH  OF  MKXICO. 


91 


unariin-'il  CKtiipunv,  and,  at  an  •ippiniitcd  h1jj;ii,   fell  U])ori 
and  murdered  every  ^f(;xiean  {jfeseiit. 

A  <^t'iii;ral  rush  upon  the  Sjianish  rpiarters,  whieh  fol- 
jdwcil  this  event,  was  only  checked  by  the  appearance;  of 
Moiilc/.iuna  himself  upon  on(!  ol"  tlie  towers  ol'  tlu;  huild' 
iug,  who,  knowing  doubtless  that  liis  own  life  could  seai'ccly 
be  J) reserved  in  such  a  nielet',  reipiested  his  subjects  to  Ibr- 
bcjir.  Thoy  therefore  contoiteil  themselves  with  brsie;j,in;^' 
llio  j,'arrison,  and  cutting  off  su])plies  of  food  and  whole- 
soiru!  water. 

It  was  on  St,  John's  day  in  the  month  of  .IntK*,  that 
CnvU-A  reentered  the  city.  The  streets  were  silent  and 
(It'sorted,  and  with  doubt  and  apprehension  he  j)roceeded 
tu  till!  Spanish  j)alae(!.  The  soldiers  of  th(3  garrison  were 
uvcrjoyed  at  the  siyht  of  the  recruits,  and  rceeiveil  tlnjir 
brethren  with  open  arms.  Cortez  saw  i,he  folly  of  Alva- 
rado's  conduct,  and  in  his  first  mood  of  indi^niation  and 
pftulanec,  at  the  probable  frustration  of  his  jilans,  he 
iiitlulg(!d  in  contemptU(Mis  treatment  of  liis  royal  captivi;. 

The  state  of  ominous  silence  (observed  in  the  city  did 
not  continue  long.  News  came  in  that  the  Indians  were 
destroying  the  bridges;  and  a  body  of  four  hundred  men, 
under  De  Ordas,  wluj  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  were 
driven  back,  with  a  loss  of  twenty-three  of  their  number. 
Such  crowds  of  natives  ])oured  forth  from  their  jilaces  of 
concealment,  that  the  streets  were  choked  with  th(!  li\ing 
mass,  while  from  balcony  and  roof-tops,  a  storm  of  weaj)- 
oiis  and  missiles  of  every  description  raint,'d  upon  the 
beads  (;f  the  Spanisli  trocjps. 

Surrounding  the  quarters  of  the  S})aniards,  and  using 
every  endeavor  to  burn  the  wooden  ])ortion  of  the  build- 
ings, the  wild  horde  of  enraged  Mexicans  continued  the 
assault,  with  desperate  fury,  till  nightfall. 

Cortez  attem])ted  a  sally  with  the  first  dawn  of  the  fol- 
lowing day,  but  ho  soon  found  that  he  had  an  enemy  to 


L 


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m 


.^: 


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1' 

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(1) 


,M,. 


Wi 


...  ,J  . 

lili 


■   .f"   : 


"■   ■!-' 


(It 


i 


.;fe 


f'l 


Ill''  1 


I'.i  J' 


U 


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1 

i 


ii 


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m 


92 


INDIAN    K.vrKS  (tK  AMKIUi'A. 


ciiCDimU'r  of  Hir  (liUcriMit  s[)ii'It  fioin  tliosc  who  liinl  licrO' 
tolitn-  ()j>j)os<'(l  liiiii.  Diii/  Siiys,  "If  w(i  lnul  bocii  ten 
tlioiisaiid  Ili'clors  of  'I'roy,  ami  as  iiiatiy  UoMaiis,  wo 
couM  not  liavo  })oat(Mi  tlicm  ofV.  -  Soiiu;  of  our  soldiers 
who  liad  Ikhmi  in  Italy,  swore  that  iicitlu'r  aiiKHi;^  (Miiis- 
tiaiis  nor  Tui-ks  liad  they  over  hccu  such  d('sporatit)ii  as 
was  niaiiiR'stiMl  in  Ih*'  attacks  of  those  Indians."  ^I'lic 
;irtillcry  in  vain  swcj)t  th(Mn  down,  for  thousands  w(!re 
rc.'i'ly  to  rush  over  the;  fallen  bodies  of  their  coniradcs, 
and  contiiuK!  the  hattU;  with  augnicnted  fi(M"ceness.  The 
Sj)aniards  were  finally  forced  to  retn^at.  A'arious  exin.'- 
dients  were  ti-itid  by  the  inch'fatigabli!  Spanish  general  tu 
([11  n  the  insurrection,  and  to  dislodge  the  assailants,  who 
shot  their  weapons  from  every  high  building  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  garrison.  Moving  towers  of  wood  were  con- 
structed, to  be  (b'awn  through  the  street  by  companies  of 
'riascaliins,  whih^  S[)anish  warriors  from  the  interior  (lis- 
cliarged  volleys  of  musquetry  upon  the  Indians.  Many 
lumdred  houses  were  (h\stroyed  by  fire,  but,  being  jirinci- 
pally  of  stone,  no  general  conflagration  ensued. 

As  a  last  resort,  the  great  king  himself,  (hacked  in  liis 
robes  of  state,  was  taken  to  the  tower  from  which  he  had 
before  succeeded  in  quieting  the  angry  populace.  ^I'he 
multitude  listened  with  (hjferential  awe,  but  wlien  they 
heard  again  the  paljialde  falseliood  tliat  he  staid  among 
the  Spaniards  by  his  own  free  will,  reverence  gave  Avay 
to  contempt  and  in(b'gnation.  Kevilings  and  reproaches 
wiM'c  followed  by  a  shower  of  stones  and  arrows,  '^^flic 
attendant  soldiers  in  vain  interposed  their  shields  to  i)ro- 
tect  the  emperor:  he  fell,  severely  wounded  upon  the  head 
by  a  stone.  The  crowd  now  retired,  ai'ipalled  at  the  sacri- 
lege that  they  had  committed.  ]>ut  the  work  was  done: 
the  miserable  ^[ontezuma,  overcome  with  rage,  mortifica- 
tion, and  despair,  would  accept  of  no  assistance,  either 
surgical  or  spiritual  from  the  Spaniards.     In  three  days, 


jtiiys  lie  Sol  is,  ' 
nal  Possession  ( 
of  his  Hreath  ii 
iiiii'-i  to  his  j'"ui' 
l'i>r  the  p;irti 
fi;:liting;  and,  a 
(>!'  the  hi  ly  teni 
sive  treatises  tli, 
tinnal  fatigue,  a 
sanits  of  tin;  (mi 
cvacMiate  the  city 
a  necromancer, 
Eoiiie,"  annoum 
the  army  could 

forte/,  whethi 
infliieneo  with  tli 
in-jf  a  hold  on  t 
made  jM-eparation 
proceedings  by  j) 
l^jsing  to  evacua 
while,  at  the  sani 
an  instantaneous 
pared  to  alVord  1 
cansev  made  by  t 

On  the  night 
brnii'dit  out  the  i 
chatnber,  and,  ha\ 
crown,  told   the 
cautioned  them  a< 
It  was  near  mi 
troops  were  put  ii 
ing  the  first  brea 
alarm  was  g^iven 
cry  of  "^raltelulc 
resounded  over  t' 


I'    .;;;# 


fT 


OUIfirNKS  OF  MKX'ICO. 


03 


Mvs  ilo  Solis,  "lio  aiimMxlcnMl  up  to  tlic  I^<'vil  tlio  rtcr- 
iKil  l'oss(^ssi()ii  ol'  his  Soul,  (MiiplDvin;;^  the  latest  inouiciif.s 
of  Ills  Drcatli  in  iiiipiDUs  'rii()ii;4lit.s  of  .sacrilRMti,!;^  his  Miic- 
iiiic'!  to  Ills  l*'iirv  ami  licvciifjfe." 

I'oi'  tlic  j)Mrti('MJars  of  tlie  various  sorties;  tlie  ceaseless 
fi;.'litiii,L';  and,  above  all,  the  terrilde  secMio  at  the  stonuin;^' 
ef  tli<'  li<  ly  temple,  the  rejider  must  refer  to  more  extiii- 
give  treiitises  than  this;  suHiec;  it  thiit,  weakened  by  eoii- 
tiiiiiiil  fiiti;jjue,  and  day  by  day  less  able  to  resist  tlu;  as- 
siuilts  of  the  enemy,  the  Sjtanianls  finally  concluded  to 
evacuate  tiic  city.  One  HotcOlo,  ji  soldier  who  was  rrputeil 
a  necromancer,  as  he  "spoke  Ijatin,  and  ha<l  been  at 
Rome,"  atinonnccd  a  certain  ni;,dit  as  the  ordy  time  when 
the  army  could  cscajio  uttcT  destruction. 

Cortex,,  whether  moved  by  sup(Tstition  or  aware  of  its 
infliicncc  with  the  army,  and  hopeless  of  lon<.^er  maintain- 
\\]'j!  a  hold  on  the  capital  under  existini^  circumstances, 
made  ]irei)arations  to  march.  He  af tempted  to  blind  his 
proceedings  by  pretended  treaties  with  the  Mexicans,  ju'o- 
posing  to  evacuate  the  city  peacealily  within  eight  days, 
wliile.  at  the  same  time,  he  was  ordering  every  thing  for 
an  instantaneous  departure.  A  j)ortabl(!  bridge  wjus  ])re- 
parcd  to  afford  the  means  for  crossing  the  gaj)s  in  the 
caDsey  made  by  the  enemy. 

Oil  the  night  of  the  first  of  July,  (1520),  the  general 
hroiiglit  out  the  immense  treasures  of  gold  stored  in  his 
chamber,  and,  having  separated  the  j)ortion  allotted  to  the 
crown,  told  the  soldiery  to  take  what  they  would,  but 
cautioned  them  against  encumbering  themselves. 

It  was  near  midnight,  and  dark  and  rriiny,  when  the 
troops  were  put  in  motion.  They  were  in  the  act  of  ^  hiss- 
ing the  first  breach,  over  the  portable  bridge,  when  the 
alarm  was  given  that  the  "Teules  were  going,"  and  tlie 
cry  of  "Taltolulco,  Taltelulco,  (out  with  your  canoes)" 
resounded  over  the  water.     The  Spaniards  were  doomed 


i 

' 

!f 


il 


1^' 


-■M 


4 


,1   ! 


il'jl' 


i*l!Hi'' 


'11 


§ 


f'! 


'  1U- 


^^l1 


04 


INUrAN  HACKS  OK  AMKIIKJA. 


to  ;^r(\'it('r  disiislcr  .'iiid  triis('ry  on  this  iii;^^lif,  known  ;is  t!io 
"noclic  tristc,"  or  ni;^lit  of  sorrow,  tli.'ui  tin'v  li:ul  cvr  yet 
(■x])(>ri(;n('.(;(l.  An  innurn(!r!il)l(',  lionli;  of  (Insky  li;_nir(;s 
Iti'sd  tli(!  ciinscy,  and  uttackcMl  tlif  fN^fitivcs  in  front,  flank, 
aiifl  rear. 

I'y  a  coiniiliciition  of  misfortune,  the  liri<l;_';(;  ])rok(>,  ainl 
from  the  strnj.'';.din;^f  mass  of  men  atnl  horses,  th*;  few  wlio 
could  f)l)tain  footinif  on  th<^  causey  wen'  mostly  kille(],  or 
their  cries  for  lielj)  were  heard  hy  their  companions  ;i-' 
they  w(^r(;  liorni!  off  in  the  canoes  of  tin;  enemy,  dooinfil 
vi(;tims  for  sacrifice.  'I'he  c:i,valry,  vvlio  w(!re  in  advance, 
hast.ened  lorward,  liopeless  of  relieviuL!;  thos*  whoso  P'- 
tr(!!it  had  Ihm-ii  cut  off,  and  who  wen;  hiindly  contendiii;,' 
in  iIki  (hirkness  with  the,  ficirco  atnl  e.nra,L';ed  A/to(;s. 

Alvarado,  dismountc^d  and  woundeil,  came  u[)  with  the 
advance,  on  foot,  ;i,ecomj>anied  hy  threi;  soldiers  and  (Mirlit 
Tlascalans.  II(!  reported  the  dest ruction  of  the  r(!ar-;.ni;ipl, 
to^cthcT  with  their  leader,  Vclas'iue/de  Leon.  Accordiii;.' 
to  some  ac(;ounls,  Alvariulo  iiad  madi^  his  (iscapc  ])y  an 
extraordinary  leaf)  over  tl'c  ;jap,  Imt  Diaz  dcuiies  the  jxis- 
sihility  of  tiie  act. 

TIk!  wearie(I  and  (]isal)lod  rcmnnnt  of  the  proud  artiiv 
of  ('orlez  pursued  their  roiiti;  towards  the  friendly  district 
of  'I'laseida,  followed  }»y  deta(;lie(l  companies  of  Vrcxicrtn,'), 
will)  ;itt;iek(!d  the  fuLntives  in  the  rc;ir,  ;inil,  with  insultit;;.; 
shouts,  bade  tlunn  li;istfri  to  llic  doom  that  awaitec]  them. 

Near  a  ][)lae(;  callcMl  Obturnba,  th(!  Indians  were  fouml 
nrrayci]  upon  a  plain  in  countless  hosts,  to  obstruct  tin; 
march,  and  finish  th(>,  work  so  suc.c(>ssfully  commenced  on 
the  ni;^dit  of  the  retreat.  'IMuue  was  no  wiiv  to  avoid  a 
general  (>nj!;af^em(>nt,  and  every  Sf)ani;ii'(l  nerved  liitnsclf 
for  the  desperate  Htrn<^gle.  \V(;  cpiot",  fi'om  Hernal  l)ia>5 — 
"Oh  Avliat  it  was  to  K(!0  tliis  tremendous  IjattUd  liow  wo 
cloS(;d  foot  to  foot,  and  with  what  furv  the  do;.^s  fouirlit 
us!  su(di   wourxling  as  then;  was  amon^^st  us  witli  their 


lances  and  c!i 

airy,  favoured 

will.     Then,  t. 

'A'jyd  us,  cryin 

toiy;   j)Ut  you 

j  I  reserves  us  fo 

The  royal  st 

tlie  whole  mu 

hy  hundreds  ii 

to  TIascala,    ik 

tlicy  shouhl   u\( 

f'Tiiig  conditio 

iVicndly  'I'lascsa 

over  tJHur  loss; 

treacherous  Me; 

During'  the  " 

(■;i!a,  (>iirht  hund 

liav!  f)erished  it 

eiiers,  to  a  fir  itk 

inoro  than  a  thoi 

fhrty  of  the  Sj); 

^vero  many  of  t 

.sii|)plled  with  a.r 

nan  army,  at  Ob 

iii'Mi,  and  that  tw 

ijiciit  or  were  sla 


IL  r.-l 


AIJOUKilXKS  OK  MKXICO. 


95 


liincos  iind  c1u1)H,  :ui(1  two-liandcd  swonls,  wliilo  our  criv- 
!ilry,  f;ivoun!il  l)y  llic  jilaiii  .in'oiiiid,  rode  llir()ii;di  lliciii  jit 
will.  'I'licii,  1')  liciu'  tlic  v.'iliiiiit  Siiudov.'d  how  If;  ciM'ijiir- 
a','cd  us,  cryiu;^'  out,  'Now,  irciif.lctiicn,  is  the  d;iy  of  vii-- 
toi'v;  ]iut  your  li'ust  iti  (hmI,  wc  sliiill  survive,  ("or  lie 
]irrsi'rv<'S  us  for  sotin;  'jooil  jjurposc'" 

Till!  rnyiil  st,;iu<l;u'd  \v;i.s  t'ikcii,  ilsbnim'r  Lciuj^sliiiti,  ;ind 
llic  \vliol(!  riiultitude  wci-c.  j)Ut  \n  (li.'-dit,  and  Ih^wu  down 
by  liuiHlnuls  in  llifir  rvtrcat.  'I'lic  S|)ani;irds  pushed  on 
to  TlasciiK'i,  not  williotit,  ini:-";ivin;/s  us  to  the  rei-eptioii 
they  shouhl  meet  with  in  their  j)reseut  eripple<l  and  suf- 
fcriii;^'  condition.  'J'hese,  fears  ])roved  groundless:  IIk; 
iVicri'llv  'I'lasealiuis  (;inl)raeed  them  afleetionately ;  wept 
over  their  loss;  and  ;^''ntly  i-ehuked  them  for  trusting  the 
tn-acherouH  Mexiean.s. 

I)iirin.<4  tlie  "no(;he  triste,"  ;in<l  upon  the  mareli  to  Tlas- 
cala,  ei^irht  hundred  and  seventy  Spaniards  are  reeordetl  to 
li.ive  p(>.rished  in  battle,  or  to  ha.ve  lieori  dootiHMl,  as  pris- 
oners, to  a  far  mor<!  terrible  (ate.  ( )!'  thi'ir 'I'lasealan  allies 
more  tlian  uthousatKl  v.'eit;  slain.  Only  (bur  hundred  and 
forty  of  the  Spanish  troops  rea<']i<'d  'j'laseala,  and  these 
w'cro,  maiiv  of  them  wounocd  and  <lisab!''d,  and  were  ill 
siij)plied  with  a.i'ins.  Some  ;irc()unts  state  that  the'  .\fexi- 
e;ia  armv,  at  ( )bt  unil)a,  inunbcre'l  two  huii'lretj  thousand 
iniMi,  ari<l  that  twe!ity  thousand  of  these  fell  in  the  (•nj'a,"'e- 
iiuait  or  were;  HUiu<^htered  in  their  tuiuulLu')Us  retreat. 


<  i'    'b 


¥ 


i 


f! 
I 
j 

!i 
Ij 


pi 


!,■'-.«  H 


i^Mi 


\'\m 


7  ;.i|t 


It' 


1 .1.1 


i#( 


i  V. 


96  INDIAN    RACES    OF   AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PRKPARATIO.N'S    FOR    TIIK  ATTACK    ON    TTIK    CITY    OF  MEXICO — 

BUILDING  AND  TKANSI'OKTATION  01-'   BRKJANTINKS SIEGE 

I. All)    TO    TIIK    CITV ASSAULT    BY    THK.    SPANIARDS, 

AND    THEIR    liKITLSK — SACRITICP:    OF    PRISON- 
ERS— CAPTURE   OF  GUATIMOZm,  AND 
CONQT'KST    OF    THE    CAPITAL. 

And  Azti'c    pr'u'stH,  upon  tlicir  teocaliis, 
Uciit  till!  wild  war-drum,  miide  of  serpents' skin." 

Longfellow. 

On  the  death  of  Montezuma,  his  brother  Cuitlahua, 
rrovornor  of  Iztapalapa,  had  taken  the  supreme  cominaiH.l 
over  the  Aztecs,  lie  had  been  prime  mover  in  the  revolt 
which  resulted  in  tlie  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards  fi'oui  tlic 
city,  and  it  was  hy  his  orders  that  their  flight  bad  been 
so  fiercely  followed  up.  At  the  present  juncture,  lie  sent 
heralds  to  propose  a  treat}-  of  peace  with  the  friendly  trilio 
by  whose  hospitality  tlie  Spanish  army  was  now  supported, 
proposing  the  destruction  of  the  whites,  who  had  brought 
such  woes  upon  the  whole  country.  A  portion  of  the 
''j'lascalan  assembly  looked  approvingly  upon  the  sugges- 
tion, but  the  older  and  Aviser  members,  reflecting  upon  the 
known  treacherv  of  the  ^Mexicans,  and  their  former  act;: 
of  o})pression,  refused  to  listen  to  it. 

Cortez,  perceiving  discontent  to  be  rife  among  liis  men, 
determined  not  to  remain  idle,  but  to  keep  their  attention 
constantly  employed.  Some,  who  were  pining  for  ease  and 
quiet,  he  allowed  to  take  ship  for  Cuba,  while  by  every 
argument  he  appealed  to  the  honor  and  valor  of  his  veter- 
ans, urging  them  not  to  desist  at  the  first  fliilure,  but  lo 
stand  by  their  general  and  reinstate  their  follen  fc-rtuues. 
He  engaged  in  bloody  conflicts  with  Mexican  tribes  on 


ABOUIGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


07 


either  sido  of  Tluscala,  with  the  most  distinguished  sue- 
soss;  and  taking  possession  of  the  town  of  Tepcaca,  a  li!W 
leagues  distant,  established  his  head-quarters  then\ 

By  singular  good  fortune,  several  ships,  bringing  fresh 
troops  to  su]>[)ort  Narvacz,  arrived  from  Cuba,  and  the 
adventurers,  learning  the  true  position  of  aflUirs,  readily 
joined  the  popular  leader.  Another  expedition,  sent  by 
the  governor  of  Jamaica  to  form  a  settlement  farther  up 
the  eoast,  only  contributed  to  swell  tlie  resources  of  Cor- 
te?>;  those  engaged  in  the  undertaking  dceminix  it  more 
prolltable  to  unite  with  the  followers  of  so  renowned  a 
general,  than  to  undergo  the  dangers  and  hardshi])  of  estab- 
lishing themselves  unassisted  among  hostile  savages, 

Cortez  determined  to  make  every  preparation  for  a 
rcru.'wed  attack  upon  the  city  of  Mexico.  Returning  to 
Tlascala,  he  set  himself  to  equip  and  furnish  his  troojis, 
and  to  train  the  Indian  allies  in  the  art  of  war.  Gunjiow- 
(It  was  manufactured;  the  sulphur  being  procured  from 
the  neighboring  volcano  of  Popocatapetl.  The  most  im- 
portant part  of  his  schemes,  however,  was  the  building  a 
number  of  small  vessels,  or  brigantines,  by  means  of  which 
his  troops  could  be  made  independent  of  the  narrow  and 
dangerous  causeys.  '^I'hese  vessels  he  ordered  to  lie  made 
in  separate  })ieces,  of  such  a  size  that  they  could  be  trans- 
{M)rted  over  the  mountains  by  the  Indian  carriers:  the 
stoH'S  ami  rigging  were  brought  from  the  coast  by  the 
same  means  of  conveyance. 

On  the  28th  of  Decend)er  Cortez  led  his  army  forth 
fi'oui  'J'lascala.  The  Spanish  force  was  less  than  that  with 
which  the  first  invasion  was  undertaken,  but  was  superior 
ill  martial  equipments.  The  whole  army  consisted  of 
about  six  hundred  whites,  and  ten  thousand,  or  upwards, 
of  Tlasealans.  'i'liey  marched  direct  for  Tezcuco,  on  the 
great  lake  of  Mexico.  No  opposition  was  made  during 
chc  march,  and  the  city  was  yielded  to  them  without  a 
7 


I  "  'i 


:v:4l.. 


■H 


98 


INDIAN    HACKS   OF   AMKltlCA. 


strugglo,  nearly  ull  Liu;  inluibituiits  (li^scrt'nii^  it  in  tlieir 
boalH.  JI(M'o  it  w;iH  (k;U:riniiiiMl  to  ;i\v;iit  tlu;  c')iii])lc1i(Mi 
;uh1  arrivul  of  the  bri^f;uitiii(!S. 

Wliilo  ull  these  {'oniiidable  })n'j)aratii)iis  wen;  is,o\\\'^  on, 
important  ehan^es  had  taken  plaee  in  the  A /tee  nionareliy. 
('uithihua,  or  Quetlavaea,  had  pei'ishcd  \)y  that  Uirrihli; 
seour^o  the  Hmall-pox,  whieh  was  introduecd  iVoin  thr  old 
eonntry  Ly  one  of  Nurviiez's  ships,  and  whieh  spread  over 
all  Mexieo,  carrying  oil'  thonsands  of  tlu;  natives.  'V\\r, 
new  emperor  Ouatimezin,  a  brave;  and  noble;  youth,  was 
nephew  and  successor  to  Mont(;/-uma.  TIk;  beauly  and 
gallant  bearing  of  this  ])rince  exeiteil  the  admiration  of 
all  beholders;  whiU;  his  int(;lligen(;(;  ami  valor,  combini'd 
with  the  hatred  whieh  he  Ijore  towards  the  wdiiirs,  made 
him  an  enemy  to  be  dreaded.  He  had  dc^voted  his  whole 
attention,  since  iiis  accession,  to  Ibrtifying  and  delendii),!.^ 
liis  caj)ital.  The  unserviceable  inhabitants  wen;  sent  into 
the  country,  while  warriors  i'n^ni  all  sides  were  called  to 
rally  round  the  Aztec  banner  within  the  city. 

'i'he  remainder  of  the  winter  and  the  early  months  of 
spring  were  occupied  by  the  S])aiiiards  in  sallies  against 
neighboring  towns  and  districts;  the  nidnction  oi'  the  dis- 
aile(!ted;  the  conciliation  of  those  in(.'lined  to  ciioperatc 
with  the  besiegers;  and,  above  all,  the(;ompletion  and  trans- 
})oi-tation  of  the  ves.sels.  We  nmst  ])ass  ov(;r  th(;  skir- 
mishes and  battles  whicii  occurred  during  this  j)ei'iod.  It 
would  be  little  more  than  a  repetition  of  scenes  of  cruelty, 
horror,  and  bloodshed.  The  s})iiit  of  tin;  A/tees  was 
unsubdued,  and  their  new  emperor  haughtily  refused  to 
listen  to  any  terms  of  treaty,  although  Cortc/  eommissioncid 
sundry  prisoners  of  rank  to  endeavor  to  move  him.  Suc- 
cess in  occupying  many  strong  and  j)0])ulous  towns,  tog(;ther 
with  the  arrival  of  fresh  recruits,  s(;rved  to  encourage  the 
S])aniards  in  tlio  ho[)es  of  final  triuini)h.  Thousands  of 
natives  were  employed  in  digging  a  canal  by  whieh  the 


J 


little  fleet  shf 
tlie  vessels  n 
uf  nautical  oi 
(■oursc  of  Tl; 
as  a  guanl  o 
(■i;_'lit  thousan 
while  two  thoi 
the  last  of  A 
service,  were 
The  additi(j 
!uid  oars,  conk 
of  the  nativ(> 
size  of  the  v 
s] »(■(■(!,  and  th( 
c<Mitrolled,  niu 
Xear  the  (in 
ten;(l  upon,  by 
to  the  city, 
attacks,  and  a  ( 
ef  the  Spaniar 
only  preserved 
three  days  togc 
siege  of  this  g 
itvvj-y  night  wc 
to  extend  my  ii 
it  would  be  alrr 
hie  that  of  Am 
I'^'cry  cxj)ed 
gle  the  vessels; 
gaj)s  in  the  cau; 
persevered  in  ^ 
rivalled  by  the 
There  was  r 
exclusive  of  the 
city  of  [)rovisic 


,  i.  ■^f: 


AHOIUOIN'KS  OF  MKXICO. 


99 


llttli'  nr>('t  .should  be  l;inncho(L  Tlw.  bcurns  nrul  [jliink.s  of 
the.  vcsscIh  u';i(\y  to  be  joined,  witli  all  the  ))iini[)h(!rriulia 
<){'  ri;iuti(;;il  outfit,  were  curried  in  state  ])y  an  inunenHe  e()n- 
(imrsc  of  'I'laseahiriH,  charged  with  tlie  liurlhcMi,  or  aetin;^ 
as  a  ^uard  of  protection.  Diaz  says  that  no  less  than 
( i'jlit  thousand  men  served  in  each  of  thc^so  capacities, 
\v!iil(!  t\v(;  tlionsaiid  inf)re  (bllowcnl  with  [)r()visions.  About 
the  last  of  Aj)ril  (bj21)  the  thirte(;n  brij^^antines,  fitted  f(jr 
service,  were  hiunched  into  the  canah 

The  addition  of  an  armed  flotilla,  which,  urf^cdby  wind 
and  oars,  could  Ijcardown  uj»on  and  scatter  the  frail  canoes 
of  tlie  natives,  j)roved  of  incalculable  advanta^^c.  'JMk; 
size  of  th(!  vessels,  the  thuii'lcr  of  their  cannons,  their 
.s]i(;C(l,  and  the  skill  with  which  they  wen;  rnana,Lf(;d  arnl 
controlled,  must  have  filled  the  M(!xicans  with  ama/.(!rn(;nt. 

Near  the  end  of  May  a  n^^ndar  system  of  siejjfo  was  en- 
tcnnl  upon,  by  the  occupation  of  the  three  {^reat  ap[)roache.s 
to  the  city,  ^riie  iidiabitants  were  unwearied  in  tlnur 
attacks,  and  a  deforce  of  vi^dlance  and  courage  on  the  part 
of  the  Spaniards,  scarce  cfpuillcd  in  any  ag(;  or  country, 
only  preserved  them  fnjm  utter  destruction.  "  I^'or  ninety- 
three  (lays  to;;,'ether,"  says  Diaz,  "  we  were  emj)loyed  in  the 
.siege  of  this  great  and  strong  city,  and  every  day  and 
every  night  we  were  engaged  with  tlu;  enemy. — -Were  I 
to  extend  my  narrative  to  evory  at^tion  which  took  place, 
it  would  be  almost  endless,  and  my  history  would  re.sem- 
\>h  that  of  Amadis  and  the  other  })ooks  of  chivalry." 

I'^very  expedient,  of  driving  sunken  palisades  to  entan- 
gle the  vessels ;  of  pit-falls  for  the  cavalry;  and  of  cutting 
gajjs  in  the  causeys,  was  resorted  to  by  the  besieged,  and 
persevered  in  with  a  determination  and  obstinacy  only 
rivalled  by  the  stern   temper  of  the  obdurate  invadens. 

There  was  necessarily  great  suffering  on  both  sides, 
exclusive  of  the  liorrors  of  actual  warfare,  from  the  sear- 
city  of  [)rovi.<ion.      Maize  was  the  principal  resort;    but 


li* 


ill 


ji]. 


'Ih 


Miii 


;!'       I 


H.il 


M    ) 


;il|,V. 


/ 


100 


INDIAN  UACE3  OF  AMEIIICA. 


the  hordes  of  Indian  allies  sustained  existence  by  a  moro 
foul  repast,  feeding  upon  the  bodies  that  were  every  where 
seattcred  over  the  causeys,  or  floating  in  the  lake— ghastly 
memorials  of  ea<;h  day's  slaughter.  Knowing  the  iiisuHi- 
eiency  of  their  own  supplies,  the  Spaniards  dared  not  for- 
bid this  practice. 

Corte/  at  liust  determined  upon  an  assault  from  three 
different  (juartcrs,  with  his  whole  force.  Fierce  battles 
had  already  been  fought  within  the  city  walls;  the  great 
Teocalli  had  been  a  second  time  carried  by  storm,  and  its 
officiating  priests  thrown  from  its  summit;  the  royal 
])alacc,  with  its  adjoining  buihbngs,  and  the  old  fortress 
where  the  Spaniards  had  formerly  quartered,  liad  been 
destroyed;  but  no  general  assault  had  been  made.  After 
some  discussion,  in  whicii  the  hazard  of  risking  so  much 
ujjon  a  single  onslaught  was  fully  discussed,  the  general 
determined  to  undertake  it,  and  issued  his  orders  for  a 
simultaneous  advance — the  maich  over  the  causeys  to  be 
])rotected  by  the  cooperation  of  the  ])rigantines. 

The  three  divisions  under  Corte;5,  Alvarado,  and  San- 
doval, were  put  in  motion  on  the  ensuing  morning.  Or- 
ders were  given  that  each  party  should  secure  a  safe 
retreat  by  thoroughly  fdling  up  all  gaps  in  the  causeys  as 
they  made  their  way  towards  the  heart  of  the  city.  Neglect 
of  tl  ^  prudent  arrangement  proved  most  dis^ustrous.  An 
advanced  force,  under  Alderete,  encouraged  by  tlic  little 
show  of  resistance,  pressed  on  nearly  to  the  great  square, 
leaving  behind  them  a  breach  in  the  causey,  (through 
which  the  water  from  the  canal  on  either  side  was  flowing 
to  a  depth  of  two  fathoms)  with  very  slight  and  inefficient 
means  for  recrossing.  As  Cortez  came  up  to  this  spot,  he 
began  to  su.spcct  that  his  men  were  entrapped;  he  saw 
that  the  cau.sey  had  been  narrowed,  and  at  once  perceived 
the  terrible  confusion  that  must  ensue,  in  ca.se  of  preci[)i- 
tate  retreat.     While  endeavorin;;  to  atone  for  this  careless- 


IT.^M  V 


AIOIUOIXES  OF  MEXICO. 


101 


ncss  hy  filling  tlic  dike,  Cortez  and  liis  followers  hoard 
the  bl;ust  of  llio  liorn  of  the  Aztoc  emperor,  (iiialirriozin, 
followed  by  a  d(;afciiing  yell  froiri  his  enraged  warrior.-', 
and  shortly  after,  Al(i(!r(;te's  i)arty  were  sccni  erowding  the 
oiiuscy  in  iheir  flight  from  an  overwhelming  mass  of  the 
natives.  At  the  gap  a  S(H;nc  (/  terrible  slaughter  ensued. 
Men  and  horses,' floundering  in  the  deep  mud  to  wliieh 
the  way  was  re<lueed;  thrust  into  the  water  by  the  pres- 
sure of  their  own  nund)ers,  and  seized  by  the  enemy, 
wlK).se  eanoes  filled  the  eanals,  presented  a  miserable  scene 
of  li()p(;less  disorder.  Cortez  himself  was  nearly  borne 
away  ea[)tive,  in  his  endeavors  to  reseuc  the  drowning 
sufferers  from  the  dike.  Si.x  stout  warriors  laid  hold  of 
him,  and  would  have  seeured  him  as  a  notable  ofi'ering 
to  tlieir  idols,  but  for  the  self-saerifieing  devotion  of  his 
officers  atid  men.  His  whole  surviving  i)arty  were  oblige*^ 
to  retreat,  making  their  way  back  to  the  camp  under  the 
protecting  fire  of  the  brigantines. 

The  division  under  Alvarado  was  also  driven  from  the 
city,  after  having  made  some  hopeful  advance,  driving  in 
tlicir  first  opponents.  The  second  body  of  natives  who 
stopped  their  progres.s,  threw  down  five;  .Sjtanish  heads, 
saying  that  they  were  those  of  Cortez  and  liis  officers.  In 
tlio  retreat  the  great  drum  was  heard  sounding  from  the 
summit  of  the  prinei[)al  teo(;alli:  "Its  mournful  noise  was 
such  as  may  be  imagined  the  music  of  the  infernal  gods, 
and  it  might  be  lieard  at  the  distance  of  almost  three 
leagues."  Diaz,  wdio  gives  this  description,  soys  that  the 
enemy  were  then  sacrificing  ten  of  tliC  S]')aniards'  hearts 
to  their  gods.  This  was  just  before  the  bhust  of  the  rf)yal 
horn — ii  signal  which  roused  the  Aztecs  to  an  in(h,*scriba 
ble  pitch  of  fury  and  courage. 

San(h)val  fared  little  better  than  the  rest,  and  the  Span- 
ish army,  completely  foiled,  returned  to  the  several  en- 
campments, frightfully  reduced  in  numbers,  de])rived  of 


I  L- 


IM% 

<j 

h 


\1r 


(i' 


'ii 


ill" 


lf:|l| 


if 

1 

'  1 

;, 

1 

^illi'''l!i- 


i 


i:!|| 


,<(■<■ 


\\ 


■!';''HS, 


i 


U'l 


102 


INDIAN'    l{ACi:S  UF  AMHIUCA. 


many  of  tlieir  invaluable^  lioivujs,  and,  above  all,  dispirited 
by  the  thought  that  sixty  or  more  of  their  bnitlircn  wcro 
alive  ill  the  hands  of  the  ciKuny,  destined  vit;tiins  at  their 


infernal  orf,des. 


An  night  aj)i)roaclied,  the  booniini^  of  the  <^reat  drum 
on  th(j  temple  aroused  the  attiMition  of  the  Sj)aniards,  and, 
looking  towards  the  eitv,  they  could  distinetlv  ix-rei.Mve 
several  <;!'  tlieir  unfortunate  companions  led  up  for  sa^-ii- 
liee,  decked  out  in  gaudy  })lumes  and  cfjronals.  A  strong 
light  tiirown  by  the  ilres  on  the  ])latfoi'm  upon  their  white 
and  naked  bodies  made  the  siekening  sight  too  paljKibly 
distinct,  while  the  shrieks  of  the  victims  rose  abovt;  even 
the  rude  din  of  barbarous  music  and  exultant  shouts. 
The  ceremony  wiis  followed  by  a  furious  attack  upon  the 
Spanish  camps. 

Not  even  scenes  like  this  could  shake  the  indomitable 
resolution  of  these  men  of  iron.  ^rhcy  continued  to 
oceuj)}-'  the  three  causeys  by  which  alone  the  city  could 
be  approached,  except  in  boats,  and  using  every  endeavor 
to  cut  off  supplies  of  ])rovisions,  made  a  steady  and  en- 
trenched advance  upon  the  ca})ital.  For  ten  successive 
nights  they  witnessed  the  butchery  of  the  Si)anish  prison- 
ers upon  the  green  stone  of  sacrifice,  with(jut  the  power 
to  render  them  the  least  assistance.  As  their  hearts  were 
torn  out  and  burned  before  the  idol,  the  priests  drew  the 
mangled  remains  down  the  stone  steps. — Some  of  the  In- 
dians, mid  their  taunts  and  revilings,  averred  that  the 
Spanish  flesh  was  "too  bitter  to  be  eaten;  and  truly, 
it  seems  tliat  such  a  miracle  was  wrought."  "Let  the 
reader  think,"  says  the  old  chronicler,  Diaz,  "  what  were 
our  sensations  on  this  occasion.  Oh  heavenly  God!  said 
we  to  ourselves,  do  not  suffer  us  to  be  sacrificed  by  these 
wretches." 

To  add  to  the  Spaniards'  distress,  the  great  body  of  their 
Indian  allies  deserted  them  at  thia  crisis.     Thev  had  be- 


ir^lt 


AllOIilGINES  OF  MEXICO. 


103 


gun  to  lose  tlicir  confidcnico  ia  tlio  invincibility  of  tlu^ 
wiJitcs;  and  the  prediction  oC  llio  M(!xi(;an  priests,  that 
witiiin  ei,i,dit  days  the  hcsicjers  sliould  be  destroyed,  liad 
its  ed'ect  upon  their  snj)erstitious  minds.  Ixtilxoeiiitl,  the 
'IVzcuean  chief,  who  had  been  raised  by  Cortez  to  the 
government  of  tlic  city  on  its  abdication  by  his  enemies, 
remained  faithful. 

When  the  ei^ditdays  were  ptu^scd,  these  fickle  allies  bej^an 
to  return,  with  fresh  confidef  c,  to  the  assistance  of  the 
besiegers.  With  determined  energy  the  Spaniards  forced 
their  passage,  foot  by  foot,  towards  the  centre  of  the  ea})- 
ital.  Securing  their  way  behind  them,  and  demolishing 
the  buildings  as  they  proceeded,  thciy  more  than  recovered 
from  their  grand  reverse.  The  miserable  inhabitants  were 
reduced  to  the  utmost  extremity  by  famine.  Crowded 
together  in  the  quarter  of  the  city  to  which  they  were 
driven,  they  perished  by  thousands,  but  nothing  seemed 
to  tame  their  fierce  and  unyielding  s{)irit.  Guatimozin 
refused  to  listen  to  terms,  although  Cortez  repeatedly  sent 
embassies  of  prisoners,  proposing  a  pcaccai)lc  cession  of 
tiie  place.  Stores  and  men  were  added  to  the  Spanish 
resources,  by  the  arrival  at  Villa  Ilica  of  a  vessel  belong- 
ing to  a  fleet  fitted  out  by  Do  Aillon,  which  was  mostly 
destroyed  on  the  reefs  of  Florida. 

After  the  three  divisions  of  the  army  had  worked  their 
way  completely  through  the  city,  and  (ruatimozin  and  his 
people  were  confined  in  a  limited  district  on  tiu^  lake,  the 
I'liry  of  their  sallies  seemed  undimiinished.  When  the}'- 
were  finally  unable  longer  to  keep  their  monaroh  in  safety, 
a  last  atttMn[)t  was  made  to  effect  an  escape  in  the  pira- 
guas or  large  canoes. 

The  brigautines  were  immediately  dispatched  to  inter 
cejit  and  destroy  the  flotilla  which  now  spotted  the  lake 
The  natives  fought  desperately,  as  usual,  attacking  the 
armed  vessels  of  the  Spaniards,  regardless  of  the  destruo- 


h 


i!i 


I     jjf;l 


•lilMil' 


15 


1-''! 


I"(. 


'V'  '■ 


104 


INDIAN  KACKri   OV  AMKKICA. 


tioii  occjusioncd  by  llio  Jirtill<'ry.  SiukIovuI,  who  com- 
rriainUMl  in  tliis  servient,  dt-Hpiitclit'd  (Jarciu  Ilol^uin,  with 
the  swiftest  of  lli(!  hi'if^iuitiiics,  to  the;  spot  wh<.'ro  the  cm- 
poror  wouhl  jji'obably  .sUicr,  with  orchjr.s  to  take  him  pris* 
oner  alive,  if  possible. 

Tlu;  atl(!iii])t  was  suceessful,  ami  tli(i  royjil  bai';f(!  was 
taken,  coiitainiii;.';  (jiiatiiiiozin,  his  bcautilul  wife,  (a  daii^li- 
tur  or  nit;ce  of  Monteziitna)  and  his  chief  followers.  I'eiii;,' 
brou;j,ht  before  Cortt^z,  the  king  addressed  his  eonqncior 
in  terms  of  proud  but  despairing  submission,  bidding  liiiu 
draw  Ills  poinard,  and  put  an  (ind  to  the  life  (jf  a  nion- 
areh  who  hail  sirivcni  to  the  last  for  his  p"op]e,  ])ut  in 
vain.  Corte/-  endeavored  to  reassure  him  by  earesse.s  and 
kiml  words,  ordering  the  (pietiii  and  atlen<lants  to  be 
treated  with  courtesy  and  respe(;t. 

While  this  hcimic  was  emu'ting,  and  during  the  j)revion3 
day,  a  work  of  such  fearfid  carnage  had  been  going  on 
in  tlu!  Me.xic^ari  (piarters  as  no  pen  can  describe.  No 
one  can  ])resurnc  to  enumerate  tlioso  who  fell.  ])ia/. 
rc[)orts  as  follows:  "  Wliat  I  am  going  to  mention  is  ti'utli, 
and  I  swear  and  .say  amen  to  it.  1  have  read  of  the  de- 
struction of  .Jerusalem,  but  I  cannot  conceive  tliat  the 
mortality  there  exceeded  this  of  Mexico;  for  all  the  i)eo- 
pie  from  the  distant  provinces  which  belonged  to  this 
cmpiri',  had  eiuicentrated  themselves  here;,  where  they 
mostly  died,  'i'hci  streets,  the  .srpiares,  the  hous(\s,  and 
the  courts  of  the  Taltelulco,  (where  the  ^fexieans  were 
last  entrenched)  were  covered  with  dead  bodies;  we  could 
not  step  without  treading  on  tlu;ni;  the  lake  and  canals 
were  tilled  with  them,  and  the  stench  was  intolerable." 

It  is  due  to  the  Spanish  general  to  say  that  he  endeav- 
ored re])eatedly  to  slay  this  butcher}-,  but  his  Indian  allies 
could  not  be  restrained,  now  that  an  opportunity  was  pre- 
sented for  safely  wreaking  their  vengeance  on  their  her- 
cditai'y  Ibcs. 


AUOUKiIN'KS  OF  MKXICO. 


105 


The  captiiH!  of  riiuitiiii()/,iii,  \;lii(li  (•i(Iismiuhi;i1('<1  llio 
coiKiucst  (if  the  city,  took  jilafis  oil  the  ihirtcciilh  of  Au- 
gust, l."»2l.  All  coiitctitinn  iiiiiiic«li.ift'ly  cciL^c'l  wliiii  this 
Wiis  ;tc.('orii[tli.she(l.  Diaz  says:  "We  H'lt  lihc  so  niiiny 
moil  just  eseapetl  from  ji  sterple  where  all  the  hells  were 
riii^'iiij^  iibout  our  (!ars.  — This  wns  owiiii^  to  tlx;  eontiiiuul 
iioisi!  of  tiie  enemy  (or  iiiiK  ty-llirci'  days  -Shoutin;^',  eall- 
iiiL'',  whistling,  as  signals  to  alt.ick  us,  A;e.  Then,  IVoiu 
the  temples  ami  udoratories  of  tlieir  aeeiirs((l  idols,  the 
tiiahals  and  horns,  and  the  monrnrnl  soiukI  of  their  great 
(Irinn,  and  other  dismal  noises  wei'e  incessantly  assailing 
our  oars,  so  that  day  or  night  we  coidil  hardly  hear  each 
other  s|ieak." 

By  (luatimo/in's  r(,'(juest,  tlu;  city  was  chaired  of  its 
inliahitants,  that  it  might  be  encctiiuUy  p\irilicd.  The 
("Uiseys  wm'e  crowded  for  three  successive  days  and  niglits 
with  a  horde  of  such  miserable,  diseased,  and  hclpji'ss 
ureiehcs,  crecj)ing  sIo\\dy  away  from  their  former  proud 
ca[)ital,  "that  it  was  misery  to  behold  them." 

The  booty  discovci'cd  by  th(!  c()iM[uerors  in  no  (h'grco 
('ipialled  their  anticipations.  It  was  sujiposcd  that  great 
(luaiitilics  of  gold  had  been  thrown  into  th(,>  lake,  and 
divers  were  emi)loycd  in  the  search  for  it,  but  with  little 
ed'cct.  'I'he  unfortunate  Guatimo/in,  and  the  loi'd  of  the 
city  of  Taeuba  were  put  to  tin;  torture,  with  the  assiMit  of 
Coitcz,  to  extort  from  them  infbnnation  as  to  the  pla<'es 
where  they  had  concealed  their  ti'casui-es.  dtvUv/.  objected 
In  this  jiicce  of  barbarity,  but  ])ermitted  it  that  the  susj)i- 
cion  might  not  rest  upon  him  of  having,  by  connivance, 
a|)j)r()priated  the  phuuh-r  to  his  own  use. 

The  young  nujiiarch,  in  this  extremity,  preserved  liia 
(hgniiy  and  c()ni))osure,  en(biring  the  eruidties  of  his  tor- 
iiieiitors  with  Indian  fortitude.  When  the  Ir.irbarous  in- 
nicii(jnsof  the  Sj)aniards  drew  forth  groans  or  cotriplaints 
hum  his  companion  iii  sullering,  Guatimozin  .silenced  him 


,»i. 


•;  i 


H 


i 


# 


f; 


'i  I 


I  'i 


h 


'  I 


.lit 


M 


m, ' 


:\rf 


IHte 


100 


INDIAN    HACKS  OK  AMKUlC'A. 


with  lli<!  t'iiliii  iiitcrr  ;,'!itivo,  '"I'liiiik'st  tli(»u,  tlicn,  tlml  1 
am  taking'  my  plcasiiiH.'  in  my  bath?"  Xwtliiii^^  wa.s gaiiicil 
hy  tilt!  iiiliumaii  traiisai'lloii,  aUli<)ii;;li  tlio  cm[ti;r(>r  tulii 
of  ii  place  in  tlu;  luKc  wIktu  ^/old  lia<l  Ix-cn  thrown,  ami 
tho  lord  oCrucuha  confi'ssi'd  that  he  luid  stores  at  u  house 
in  the  t'ountry.  'riieso  deelai'aticjns  were  jfohahly  inucle 
merely  lor  the  jmrpuHe  of  c^scaping  present  unguitsh. 


ClIAl'TKll   VII. 

RKI»IIIM)IN(;    ()!••    Tin;    (IIY  —  I:XTI;NSI()N    ok    .SI'ANISH    I'OWKR— 

TIIK    MAKCII  '!((    II().\l)i;i(AS — IIXIICUTION  OV    (JtJAThMOZlN 

ftoNNA    MAM.NA — .MoUI.IlN    MKXICO. 

"Now  tlii-y  nri'  ifi>\n — <u>m',  ;is  tliy  Kcttiiij,'  lilii/.e 
Gofs  (Idwn  till'  West,  uhili'  iii;fht  is  ]if{'>isin<,'  on, 
And  with  tliciii  tlu'  old  tiili;  of  licttiT  ti:iys, 
And  ti(>i)hit'S  of  ri'ini'iiilicri'd  power  arc  j,'ont'."' 

Ukyant. 

Within  a  few  years  after  the  scenes  we  liavc  just  de* 
8cri})ed,  the  royal  city  of  the  A/Aeu  nionarehs  rose  from 
its  ruins  with  renewed  splendor;  but  under  wliat  dill'erent 
cireiunslanees  from  those  whicli  attended  its  first  establish- 
ment! I'lie  })rou(bsi>irited  nation,  reduced  to  dc<j;rading 
servitude,  was  compelled  U,  build  and  plant  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  victorious  Spaniards,  whose  poAver  daily  in- 
creased with  the  multitudes  flocking  from  the  Old  World  to 
seek  wealth  or  novelty  in  the  sunny  climes  of  Now  Sj)ain. 

'J'he  modern  city  of  Mexico  presents  a  very  different 
asj)ect  from  that  of  the  ancient  capital.  By  the  drainage 
of  the  lake,  it  no  longer  stands  upon  an  island;  and  tlio 
causeys,  which  led  to  it,  still  used  as  public  roads,  are  said 
to  be  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the  other  highw^ays. 


.J 


r, — 


AlJ(;Ill(iINKS  (JF  MKXICO. 


107 


All  tli(!  flarrttimding  tribi-s  who  tlid  not  yirld  itiiiiliciUy  to 
tlic  (liituU'.s  of  tho  fj^iMicrul,  when  tin-  ;fn':it  c;ily  wa.s  <!(!- 
Btruyt'tl,  wcro  pnjinptly  (lUclKxl  ami  liuinltlcd.  Coiilinncd 
ill  liis  iiullioiity  by  royal  coiiuuissiijii  I'or  tin.'  i-IVorts  of 
his  (.iiiumics  could  avail  littlu  a;^"aiii.st  llio  universal  ucclu- 
matioii  wliieli  lollowcd  tliu  mows  of  hi.s  hucco.s.scs  --("orto/ 
coiitiiiiicd  to  increase  the  extent  of  .Sj)aiiish  dominion,  and 
.4111  more  I'lleclually  toerusli  all  spirit  of  opposition  amon;^^ 
the  miserable  Mexieans.  Wt;  eannot  detail  the  terriblt; 
examples  of  vengeanee  whieh  lbIlowe(l  any  attemjit  to 
throw  olV  the  galling  yoke.  With  sueh  ettadjutors  as 
Alvarado,  Sandoval,  and  other  (;f  his  veteran  ollleers, 
resistance  to  his  suj>remaey  proved  worse  than  vain.  The 
.stake  or  the  halter  was  the  ready  in.strunient  by  whieh  the 
muw.  ol'  n^bellion  was  punished. 

in  October  of  lo2-i,  Cortez,  witli  a  small  force  of  Span- 
iards, and  a  large  l)ody  of  natives,  undertook  a  long  and 
(lillieult  march  to  Ilondura.'^.  I  lis  j)urpose  was  to  eliastise 
the  rebclliou.s  de  Olid,  who  had  thrown  oil'  his  general's 
uulhority.  Although  the  details  of  Oie  dangers,  hard- 
ships, and  adventures  in  this  expedition  are  minute  and 
intiTcsting,  we  only  refer  to  it  as  giving  occasion  for  the 
tlestruetit)!!  of  the  last  A/tec  nuHuirch.  Continually  ap- 
prehensive of  a  new  rev(jlt,  Coilcz  had,  ever  since  the 
coiKjucst,  kept  his  royal  prisoner  a  close  atten(huit  on  his 
person.  Together  with  his  faithful  vassal,  the  loi'd  of 
Taeuba,  (iuatimozin  was  taken  to  accompany  the  party 
ti)  lIondura.s.  At  Gueyacala,  or  Aculan,  a  conspiracy  of 
the  Mexicans  in  the  train  to  fall  upon  and  massacre  the 
Sixuiiards,  was  re{)orted  to  the  general,  and  attributed  to 
the  inllucnce  of  these  two  nobles.  All  j)articipation  in 
tills  j)lot  ^vas  denied  by  the  captives,  but  slight  suspicion 
was  sullicient  to  furnish  an  excuse  to  tho  un.scrupulous 
Spaiiiai'd  lijr  ridding  himself  ofa  i:onstant  stjurce  of  anxiety. 
Gualimozin  and  the  Tacuban  governor  were  both  hanged 


W'i'il 


|i 


#■ 


•  i »  '- 


! 


! 

i    '   ' 

i 

1 

i 

,WI' 


I; 

il 
il 


I. 


fi 


:.jii|!;:Ur  ^'^ 


«,! 


]■ 


:  If:' 


# 

i;=l 


108 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMEIUCA. 


by  liirf  orders.  Dkv/.  afTirins  tJiat  tlicrc  was  but  one  opin- 
ion among  tlie  company,  tliat  this  was  "a  most  unjust  and 
srucl  sentence."  lie  proceeds  to  say  that  Cortez  sufiered 
much  in  his  conscience  for  this  ac^ — "He  was  so  distracted 
by  these  thoughts  that  he  could  not  rest  in  liis  hod  at 
niglit,  and,  getting  up  in  tlie  dark  to  walk  about,  as  a  re- 
lief from  his  anxieties,  he  went  into  a  large  ajiartment 
where  some  of  the  idols  were  worshipped.  Here  he  missed 
his  way,  and  fell  from  the  height  of  twelve  feet,  to  the 
ground,  receiving  a  desperate  wound  and  contusions  in 
his  head.  This  circumstance  he  tried  to  conceal,  keeping 
his  sufferings  to  himself,  and  getting  his  hurts  cured  as 
well  as  he  could." 

An  interesting  incident  occurred  on  this  march  relative 
to  the  history  of  the  faithful  inter})retcr  Donna  Marina. 
The  course  taken  led  the  army  through  her  native  prov- 
ince, and  it  so  chanced  that,  at  a  great  conclave  of  chiefs 
and  principal  inhabitants  to  hold  conference  with  the  Span- 
iards, her  mother  and  brother  were  })resent.  The  unna- 
tural parent,  who  had  so  long  before  sold  her  daughter  as 
a  slave,  thought  the  hour  of  retribution  was  at  hand,  but 
Marina  encouraged  and  caressed  her,  making  her  offerings 
of  jcvvels  and  other  attractive  trifles.  She  avowed  her 
attachment  to  the  Spaniards  and  their  religion,  expressing 
gn^at  ])ride  and  satisfaction  in  the  son  and  the  husband, 
for  both  of  whom  she  stood  indebted  to  her  noble  master 
and  friend. 

We  must  noAV  take  leave  of  the  historical  detail  of  Mex- 
ican chronicles,  with  a  few  remarks  upon  the  condition  of 
the  T)ulians  subsequent  to  the  conquest,  the  changes  since 
wrougtit  by  lapse  of  time,  the  introduction  of  a  foreign 
population,  and  the  mixture  of  races. 

For  a  long  period  the  mass  of  the  natives  were  compel- 
led to  waste  their  lives  in  hopeless  toil  on  the  plantations, 
in  the  mines,  or  at  the  lising  cities  of  their  oppressors. 


AIJOUIGINKS  OF  MEXICO. 


109 


Cortcz  felt  and  expressed  some  cornpunetious  visitings  of 
couseicnee  at  the  adoption  of  this  general  s}  .stem  of  shivery, 
but  fell  ill  with  it  as  being  essential  to  the  maintainanee 
of  Spanish  power  and  the  s})eedy  growtli  of  the;  colonies. 
Ho  saw  that  the  mental  ca})aeity  of  the  pcojile  was  fur 
su|)(>rior  to  that  of  the  other  North  American  aborigines, 
ciiiil  felt  some  natural  regret  that  their  national  pride  should 
bo  entirely  humbled,  ami  their  opportunities  for  civilization 
:iinl  improvement  be  so  entirely  eat  ofl".  A  better  state 
of  things  was  gradually  brought  about,  and  the  inhabit- 
aats  oi^  pure  native  descent  are  now  spoken  of  as  a  cheer- 
ful, courteous  race,  busying  themselves  in  the  sim])ler  arts 
of  luaiuifacturc,  cultivating  their  iields,  and  enjoying  the 
equable  freedom  from  anxiety,  so  congenial  to  the  mild 
aud  delicious  clinnite  of  their  country. 

Pulque,  die  intoxicating  drink  of  the  Mexicans,  is  pro- 
ductive of  the  evil  ell'ects  that  such  beverages  always  pro- 
duce among  the  Indians  of  America;  and,  in  the  huge 
cities,  a  disgusting  horde  of  lazaroni  disfigui-es  the  ])ublic 
squares.  In  the  city  of  Mexico,  these  beggars  are  es])e- 
cially  numerous. 

The  half-breeds,  who  form  at  the  present  day  so  exten- 
sive a  portion  of  the  ])Oi)ulation,  present  every  variety  of 
social  ])osition.     Some  of  Monte/.uma's  descendants  mar- 
ried into  noble  families  of  Sj)aiii,  and  their  j)osterity  ar- 
rived at  great  wealth  and  dignity.    The  wife  of  GuariniDzin 
ai'tiM-  his  execution,  married  successively  no  less  than  tii.  ._, 
C;ustilians  of  honorable  family.  •  She  is  every  where  spok. 
of  as  a  w^oman  of  charming  ap/pciiranco  and  attract! ^ 
manners.     A  descendant  of  the  Ibnner  emperor  of  the 
Aztecs  held  the  olfice  of  S))anish  viceroy  in  Mexico  iis  late 
a.s  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 


,:•:    Ht.!!l:| 


'n 


U'i 


\Mm' 


\m^\ 


1!      4 


1 


THE  FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


CIIAl'TEK  I. 

EAKLY  KxpnnrnoNs  of  Spanish  adventuhers — ponce  de  leoh— 

L.  VAI,AS(ii;i:/,   DE   AVI.LON I'AMPIIILO   DE   NAKVAEZ FEIl- 

NANDO  DE  SOTO HIS  LANDING  AND  ESTAIil.ISHMENT 

AT   TAMl'A STORY  OF  JOHN    ORTIZ,  A  SPANISH 

CAPTIVE    AMONG    THE    INDIANS. 

Ykw  portions  of  the  Western  Continent  have  witncspcf] 
such  scenes  of  barbarous  warfare  between  the  natives  ami 
]*iUropean  adventurers,  or  between  su])jects  of  contending 
nations  at  the  East,  as  the  long  low  ])eninsulu  which  lies 
at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Atlantic  sea-coast  of  the 
United  States,  Its  whole  history  is  stntngely  romantio, 
and  might  well  tempt  us  away  from  our  subject,  were  there 
room  to  chronicle  all  the  interesting  details  of  it.s  discov- 
ery, conquest  and  settlement. 

The  first  picture  presented  to  our  minds,  when  we  turn 
back  to  these  early  times,  is  of  Juan  J\)nce  de  Leon,  gov- 
ernor of  Porto  Kico,  led  l)y  Indian  fables  in  1512  to  search 
amid  the  low  islands  of  the  coast  for  a  fountain  that  should 
bestow  perpetual  youth;  landing  upon  the  green  and  flow- 
ery shores,  and  bestowing  upon  the  country  its  pleasing 
and  musical  a])pellation.  All  of  North  America,  to  the 
northward  and  eastward  of  Arexico,  went  by  the  name 
of  Klorida,  bef(;re  English  settlements  were  made  upon 
the  coast.  Eailing  in  his  first  search,  Leon  undertook  a 
second  expecbtion  into  the  unknown  world,  in  hopes  of 
fniding  miiu\s  of  the  precious  metals,  liut  was  killed  in  a 
fight  Avitb  the  natives. 


li 


I'.  : 


f — 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


Ill 


The  pcrfulious  Luke  Yalasquc/  do  Av11m!i,  in  IT; IS.  vif- 
itcd  the  coiustto  tlie  northward  of  I'lorida,  to  procure  gohl 
and  slaves.  'Vim  kindly  natives,  whom  he  t(.'rnpt(Hl  on 
board,  were  shut  under  hatches,  atid  conveyed  to  Cnlia. 
Koturning  again  to  the  country,  he  and  his  i>arty  were 
justly  i)unished  f(;r  their  treacdiery,  nearly  all  of  thiMu 
being  slain  l)y  the  Inhabitants,  who,  mindful  of  former 
injuries,  rose  uj)on  them  unawan^s,  ;ifler  j)utting  them  olf 
their  guard  by  demonstrations  (;f  fri(Midshi}).  Those  wh  > 
had  h^en  carried  into  servitude  mostly  ])erished,  some  liy 
voluntary  starvation,  and  others  from  gricd'  aiul  desjKiir. 

The  Indians  of  Florida  arc  represented  by  all  early  his- 
torians as  a  high-s])irited  and  couiaire'ous  race,  showing 
considerable  skill  in  agriculture,  and  exhibiting  marks  of 
far  greater  civilization  than  those  of  the  North.  It  seems 
not  i:ii])robable,  judging  from  their  traditions,  a])pearaiiee 
and  customs,  that  thcv,  as  well  as  the  Natchez,  had  emi- 
irratcd  fi'om  ^[cxico,  ]KU'ha})3  at  no  very  remote  pfuiod. 
Tluy  Resided  in  towns  and  villages  of  considerable  extfuit, 
and  showed  a  degree  of  resoluticui  and  desperate  valor, 
in  defending  their  homes  against  the  murderous  S]>aii';mls, 
which  has  seld<jm  been  erpialled.  I'p.apj'alled  by  the  ter- 
rililo  execution  of  the  unknown  we;iponsof  tluur  enemies, 
who,  mounted  u])on  horses  (hitherto  unknown  in  theeoun- 
tiy)  and  clad  in  defensive  armor,  j)resented  a  novid  and 
unaccountable  spectacle  to  their  wondering  eyes,  they  dis- 
puted the  invaded  territory  inch  by  inch. 

Like  most  of  their  red  brethren,  thev  eould  not  long 
brook  the  indignity  of  slavery;  tlie  proud  spirit  of  tln^ 
Indian  can  never,  like  that  of  the  African,  be  so  humbled 
that  his  race  can  continue  and  multiply  in  servitude. 

Tl)e  old  Portuguese  narrator  of  I)c  Soto's  conquest, 
speaking  of  the  Indian  slaves  of  Cubia,  says  that  their 
custom  was  to  liang  themselves,  to  escape  the  toil  and 
degradation  of  workiii";  the  mines      He  tells  of  an  over- 


:«'\ 


I! 


ImM' 


■'t   :« 


■.  ,■■•  -,.  1;:  ■ 


\)  ll 


112 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKlilCA. 


soer  111  the  service  of  Vasco  rorcallio,  (ufterwards  De  Soto'a 
lieutfiiant-gcucral,)  who,  "knowiii;^  the  Jiidiuns  uiulcr  his 
charge  had  resolvrd  to  hang  thein.selvcs,  went  and  staid 
lor  them  at  the  piac(^  where  they  iiitcnided  to  })ut  this  dis- 
mal i'es()hitii>n  into  execution,  with  a  rope  in  his  liand:  ho 
toKl  them  ilwy  must  not  imagine  that  any  of  tht-ir  designs 
were  hid  from  him,  and  that  he  was  come  to  hang  himself 
with  them,  that  he  might  torment  tlicm  in  the  other  world 
an  huiulred  times  moi-c;  than  he  had  done  in  this."  His 
exjJcdicMit  liad  the  (U'sirrd  vWivA  upon  their  su[)erstiti(»iis 
and  credulous  minds,  and,  giving  up  tlieir  purpose,  they 
rcturnetl  subnussively  to  their  tasks. 

ramphih)de  N'arvae/,  in  Aj)ril,  1528,  with  acommissiou 
from  (-ha  \\s  the  fifth  to  coiupier  and  take  j)ossessioii, 
hauled  four  hundred  men  and  foity  or  Jifty  horses  at  East 
Florithi.  IV'netrating  the  wildi'i'iiess,  they  crossed  the 
country  to  A}>});ilaehe,  sometimes  ex])eriencing  kind  treat- 
ment from  the  Indians,  at  other  times  in  danger  from  their 
attacks.  Finding  no  gold,  and  but  little  ])rovision  at  this 
town,  from  which  tliey  di'ovc  out  tlic  inhabitants  on  their 
lirst  arrival,  the  Spaniards  shaped  their  course  to  the  south 
towards  Autc.  'rormented  by  hunger;  beset  by  hidden 
f(;)cs;  disheartened  by  the  terrible  dilliculties  which  beset 
their  jiath,  from  the  almost  impassable  natural  confornui- 
tion  of  the  country;  and  worn  out  by  incessant  exertion, 
ISarvaez  and  his  men  reached  Autc  only  to  find  it  burned 
and  deserted  by  its  inhabitants. 

Many  of  the  party  having  already  perished,  the  rest, 
hopeless  of  making  further  j)rogres3  by  land,  set  to  work 
to  construct  boats  in  which  they  might  reach  a  port  of 
safety.  With  singular  ingenuity  they  prepared  tools  A'orn 
the  iron  of  their  aeeoutrenicnts;  and,  with  no  fui  iher  mate- 
rials than  were  furnished  by  the  productions  of  the  forest. 
and  the  manes,  tails,  and  skins  of  tlieir  horses,  five  small 
boats  were  built.     They  embarked  and  set  sail,  but  nearly 


-'■V' 


FL(>I;II)A  INDIANS. 


113 


nil  pcrisliod,  oitlior  Ly  farnliu*  or  by  tlio  (l;in;:,^crs  of  llu^  st-'i.. 
Onlv  ;i  liiindf'ul  of  iIh;  mirnbcr  wci'c  ever  liciiid  rimii, 
aiiu)ii;f  wlioiii  w.is  Alv;ir  Nunez  Cabe/ii  dt;  Varu.  Willi 
only  foi"*  ci'iiipaiiious  lu;  k(>j)t,  on  liis  cours(>  to  the  \\'c.-l, 
;iiiil,  iirtcf  yi'urs  of  peril,  hardship,  and  .servitude,  reached 
th(^  Spanish  setUernents  of  Mexico. 

The  next  Sj)anish  e.\p(!dition  to  1^'loridawas  of  far  more; 
iiii])Mrtanec  and  interest,  tlian  either  that  had  preceded  it. 
The  (celebrated  l'\'rnando  de  Soto,  afler  ae(piirin^  an 
iiiitnensc;  fortune  as  a  coiujianion  of  Pizarro,  at  Peru,  wa.s 
moved  by  the  restless  spirit  of  adv(!nture  to  undertah'e  ii 
iiioi'c,  eomplctc  examination  of  the  New  World  opened  to 
.Spanish  cupidity  and  curiosity. 

\\'ilh  .seven  shij)s  of  his  own  providin^^,  and  aecompa- 
iiicil  hy  from  six  hundnnl  to  one  thou.sand  warlike  and 
energetic  adventurer.s,  many  of  whom  were  of  noble  rank'. 
Do  Soto  set  sail,  in  tlu?  month  of  v\[)ril,  \i')'A^.  rpwards 
nCayear  was  s))ent,  mostly  ii{)OU  tlic  island  of  Cuba,  befoi-e 
the  (l(H't  set  .sail  for  the  T'lorida  coa.st.  In  the  latter  pai't 
oC  Nhiy,  ir>;!!),  the  ves.sels  came  to  anchor  ofV  the  hiiy  of 
Iv-pii'itu  Santo,  now  Tampa  Pay,  on  the  Avcstern  sead>oard, 
and  a  lar.Li'c  division  of  .soldier.s,  both  horse  and  foot,  wei'e 
landed.  The  riidians  had  taken  the  alarm,  ami,  althou;.di 
the  smoke  of  their  ilres  had  been  seen  from  sliipdjoard  in 
various  directions,  all  had  fled  from  the  district,  or  lay  con- 
cealed in  the  thickets.  De  Soto  appears  to  have  been 
desirous  to  ))rocced  upon  peaceable  terms  with  the  natives, 
hut  hostilities  .soon  followed.  Some  skirmishes  took  j)laee 
near  the  point  of  landinj^,  and  the  Sparuards  .s[)eedily  j)os- 
.so.s.sod  them.sclves  of  the  nearest  village,  where  were  the 
!iead-'piart(.'r^:  of  the  cacfque  Ueita  or  Iliriga.  lleic  l>e 
Soto  cst;d)lished  him.self  in  "the  lord's  house,"  which  was 
huilt  upon  a  mound  by  the  sea-.sliore;  while  the  .soldiers 
used  the  materials  of  the  other  buildings  in  con.structing 
barracks. 
8 


II- ^ 


I' 

f 

1  1:1    't 


.         ' 


114 


INDIAN'    HACKS  OK  AMEUICA. 


At  the  iuliuid  extnjriiity  of  tli(3  lowu  sti^od  tlic  t(Jiii])le 
devoted  bj  the  Indiuiis  to  relifjjious  obsc'rvanecs.  Over  iIk; 
ciitruneo  ol'this  buildin*^  was  the  wooden  li<^ure  of  a  f(jul, 
having  the  eyes  gilded — j)laeed  tiiere  i'or  tlie  ])ur{)(is('  of 
ornament,  or  as  syrnljolic  of  the  tutehiry  deity  <A'  the  jilncc. 

Clearings  were  now  made  around  the  village,  to  give  IVro 
scope  to  the  oj)erations  of  the  cavalry,  and  parties  weic 
sent  out  to  cxj)lore  the  country,  and  to  make  jirist^iiLTs 
who  should  serve  as  guides  or  hostages. 

The  remembrance  of  horrible  outrages  committed  upon 
himself  and  his  ])eo})le  by  Narvacz,  had  so  end)ittered  the 
old  chi(;f  Iliriga  against  the  whites,  that  no  professions  (;f 
friendship  and  g(K)d  will  could  appease  his  hatr('(l.  l)o 
Soto  released  ])risoners  who  were  taken  by  his  se(^uti!ig 
])artics,  charging  them  witli  presents  and  conciliatory  mes- 
sages for  their  ehi(!f,  but  all  in  vain. 

In  the  tangled  forests  and  marshes  the  Indians  were 
found  to  be  no  contemptible  opponents,  1'hey  were  de- 
scribed as  being  "so  dexterous  tierce  aTid  nimble  that  foot 
can  gain  no  advantage  upon  them."  Their  bows  and  arrows 
were  so  cfiective  that  coats  of  mail  did  not  prove  a  sulfi- 
cient  protection  against  their  force.  The  arrows  were 
headed,  [us  usual,  witli  stone,  or  with  fish-bones;  those 
which  were  made  of  canes  or  reeds  produced  the  dead- 
Yicst  effect. 

A  party,  und(^r  Gallegos,  scouring  the  country  a  few 
miles  from  the  (iamp  attacked  a  small  body  of  Indians,  and 
put  them  to  flight;  but,  as  a  horseman  was  charging  witli 
Ins  lance  at  (mic  of  the  number,  he  was  ama/ed  to  hear 
liim  cry  out:  "Sirs,  lam  a  Christian;  do  not  kill  me,  nor 
these  ])oor  men,  who  liave  given  me  my  life." 

Naked,  sun-burned,  and  painted,  this  man  was  scarce 
distinguishable  from  his  wild  associates.  Ilis  name  was 
John  Ortiz,  and  he  had  lived  with  the  Indians  twelve 
years,  being  one  of  the  few  followers  of  Narvaez  who 


FLOKIDA  INDIANS. 


115 


cst3apc(l  dcstnu'tion.     Since  the  disastrous  failure  of  tliat 
cxpcMlition  he  liad  made  his  way  to  Cuba  in  a  sitiall  boat, 
mill  had  returned  again  to  I'loriihi  in  a  stnall  vessel  sent 
ill  ([ucst  of  the  lost  ])arty.     ^I'he  Indians  enticed  a  few  of 
the  crew  on  shore,  and  made  them  })risoners.     Ortiz  was 
aiiioiig  the  nuinb(!r,  and  W!us  the  oidy  one  who  escajx'd 
iimiicdiate  death.     After  amusing  themselves  "by  vari(^us 
rxjMjdients  to  terrify  and  torment  their  captive,  the  sav- 
iiL^cs,  by  the  command  of  their  chief,  lliriga,  bound  liim  to 
fiur  stakes,  and  kindled  afire  beneath  him.     lie  was  ])re- 
S'Tvcd,  even  in  this  extremity,  by  the  compassionate  entrea- 
ties and  persuasions  of  a  daughter  of  the  cacique.     His 
liiiriis  having  been  healed,  he  was  deputed  to  keep  watch 
(ivcr  the  tern})le  where  the  bodies  of  the  dead  were  depos- 
iiril,  to  defend  them  from  attacks  of  wolves.    His  vigilance 
and  resolution,  in  dispatching  a  wolf,  panther,  or  "Lyon," 
(according  to  one  account)  which  had  seized  the  body  of  a 
cliild  of  one  of  the  princi|)al  chiefs,  aroused  a  kindly  feel- 
ing towards  him,  and  he  was  well  used  for  three  yeai's. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  lliriga,  having  been  worsted  in 
■  fight  with  Moscoso,  a  hostile,  chief  whose  dwelling  was  at 
a  ilistance  of  two  days'  journey,  thought  it  necessary  or 
expedient  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  his  Christian  subject  to 
tlic  devil.     "Seeing,"  .says  our  Portuguese  historian,  "the 
l)i'vil  holds  these  |)eople  in  dcjdorable  bondage,  they  arc 
accustomed  to  offer  to  him  the  life  and  bloud  even  of  tlieir 
subjects,  or  of  any  body  else  that  falls  into  their  hands." 
Forewarned  of  this  danger  bv  his  former  benefactress, 
Ortiz  fied  in  the  night  towards  the  country  of  Moscoso. 
Upon  first  meeting  wi+h  the  subjects  of  this  chief,  he  Avas 
in  great  danger  from  the  want  of  an  interpreter  to  explain 
whence  he  came,  and  what  was  his  errand;  but,  at  last, 
finding  an  Indian  who  understood  the  language  of  the 
people  with  whom  he  had  lived,  he  quieted  the  suspieion.s 
of  his  hosts,  and  remained  with  them  in  friendship  no  less 


MM     v,^ 


6.( 


\i^ 


|:if  '^   >i 


I'l  t 


t( 


4v  i 


lU 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


than  nine  years.  Moscoso,  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  De 
Soto,  generously  furnished  his  eaptive  with  an  escort,  and 
gave  him  free  permission  to  return  to  his  eountrymcn,  in 
accordance  with  a  promise  made  when  Ortiz  first  came  to 
his  territory. 

The  long-lost  Spaniard  was  joyfully  received,  with  his 
companions,  at  De  Soto's  camp ;  his  services  fus  guide  being 
considered  invaluable.  In  answer  to  the  first  inquiry, 
however,  where  gold  was  to  be  sought,  he  could  give  no 
satisfactory  information. 

The  cacique  Moscoso  being  sent  for,  soon  presented  him- 
self at  the  Spanish  encampment,  and  after  spending  some 
days  in  familiar  intercourse  with  the  wonderful  strangers, 
departed,  exulting  in  the  possession  of  a  shirt  and  other 
tokens  of  royal  munificence. 


CHAPTER  II. 

PROGRESS  NORTHWARD — CONTESTS  WITH  THE  NATIVES VITACHCCO 

EXPEDITION  TO  CUTIFACHIQUI — DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  WEST. 

**         ♦         •         •         The  long  bare  arms 
Are  heaved  aloft,  bowa  twiing  and  arrows  stream; 
Each  makes  a  tree  his  shield,  and  every  tree 
Sends  forth  its  arrow.     Fieree  the  fight  and  short 
As  is  the  wiiirlwind." — Bryant. 

Be  Soto  now  concluded  to  send  his  vessels  back  to  Cuba, 
and  leaving  a  strong  guard  in  Iliriga's  country,  to  proceed 
northward.  Favorable  accounts  were  brought  by  his  emis- 
saries from  the  adjoining  district  of  Paracoxi,  and  delud- 
ing hopes  of  procuring  gold  invited  to  still  more  distant 
exploration  in  Cale.  Viisco  Porcalho,  wearied  and  dis- 
gusted with  hopeless  and  desultory  skirmishing  among  the 


\  \ 


Kr.OKIDA  INDIANS. 


117 


swuinps  and  morasses,  resigned  liis  conunissi(jn,  and  left 
witli  the  scpiadron. 

The  Spanisli  force,  proceeding  up  the  country,  ])asscd 
with  groat  difTiculty  tlie  extensive  morass  now  known  as 
the  Walioo  Swamp,  and  came  to  Calc  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Alachua.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town,  wliich 
was  large,  and  gave  tokens  of  thrift  and  abundance,  had 
(led  into  the  woods,  except  a  few  stragglers  who  were  taken 
prisoners.  The  troops  fell  upon  the  stored  provisions, 
ami  ravaged  the  fields  of  maize  with  the  eagerness  of  fam- 
ished men. 

Leaving  Gale  on  the  11th  of  August,  De  Soto  pressed 
forward  to  the  populous  town  of  Ochile.  Here,  without 
pretence  of  coming  as  friends,  the  soldiers  fell  upon  the 
itiliabitants,  and  overpowered  .hem  by  the  suddenness  of 
their  attack.  Hie  country  Avas  under  the  rule  of  three 
brothers,  one  of  whom  was  |aken  prisoner  in  the  town. 
The  second  brother  came  in  afterwards  upon  the  receipt 
of  friendly  messages  from  the  Spanish,  general,  but  the 
elder,  Vitachuco,  gave  the  sternest  and  most  haughty 
responses  to  all  eml)assies  proposing  conciliatory  measures. 
Appearing,  at  last,  to  be  convinced  by  tlic  persuasion  of 
his  two  brothers,  who  were  sent  to  him,  he  consented  to 
a  meeting.  "With  a  large  com])any  6f  chosen  warriors,  he 
proceeded  to  De  Soto's  encampment,  and,  with  due  formal- 
ity, entered  into  a  league  of  friendship.  Both  armies 
betook  themselves  to  the  principal  village  of  Vitachuco, 
and  royal  entertainment  was  prepared. 

The  treacherous  cacique,  notwithstanding  these  demon- 
strations, gathered  an  immense  force  of  his  subjects  around 
the  town,  with  a  view  of  surprising  and  annihilating  the 
Spaniards;  bat  the  vigilance  of  John  Ortiz  averted  the 
catastrophe. 

Preparations  were  at  once  made  to  anticipate  the  attack; 
and  so  successful  were  they  carried  out,  that  the  principal 


h 


I 


P' 


i  m^^ 


.4t  •: 


■  m 


.li' 


iiiif  f>.ji 


(I 


,:!:il' 


JiJ 


■.!l'<:iJt' 


118 


iNin.vx  UAi.'K.s  OF  ami; I ;k' A. 


eiinifjuf!  was  scctiiv.l,  ami  liis  army  routed.  ^^aIlV  of  tlio 
fugitives  wert)  diiveu  into  u  lake,  wIutc  tliey  eoneealeil 
theiiisolves  by  covering  tliuir  luiuds  Avitli  tln'  Iea\cs  of 
water-lilies.  'j'iie  lake  was  suiTounded  by  I'ne  Spanish 
troops,  but  such  was  tli(!  ix'solution  of  the  Indians,  that 
they  remained  the  whole  night  iinnierse(l  in  water,  and, 
ou  th(!  following  (hiy,  when  the  nsst  had  delivered  them- 
selves up,  ''being  constrained  by  the  sharpness  of  the  ewM 
that  they  endured  in  the  water,"  twelve  still  held  out, 
resolving  to  die  rather  than  surrender.  (Miilled  ami  stii- 
j)elied  by  the  exposure,  these  were  dragged  ashore  bv  souk; 
Indians  of  Paracoxi,  belonging  to  De  Soto's  party,  who 
swam  after  them,  and  seized  them  by  the  hair. 

Although  a  ])risoner,  with  his  chief  warriors  reduced  to 
the  eon(btion  of  servants,  Vitachueo  did  not  lay  aside  hid 
daring  {)ur]K>\'s  of  revenge.  He  managed  to  circulate!  the 
order  among  his  men,  that  on  a  day  appointed,  while  the 
Spaniards  were  at  dinner,  every  Indian  should  attack  the 
one  nearest  him  with  whatever  weapon  came  to  hand. 

When  the  time  arrived,  Vitachueo,  who  was  seated  at 
the  general's  table,  rallying  himself  for  a  desperate  effort, 
sprang  upon  his  host,  and  endeavored  to  strangle  him. 
"This  blade,"  says  the  Tortuguese  nari'ator,  "fell  iij)on  the 
general ;  but  before  he«could  get  his  two  hands  to  his  throat, 
he  gave  him  such  a  furious  blow  with  his  fist  uj)on  the 
face  that  he  put  him  all  in  a  gore  of  blood."  Le  Soto 
had  doubtless  perished  by  the  unarmed  hands  of  the  mus- 
cular and  determined  chief,  had  not  his  attendants  rushed 
to  his  rescue,  and  dispatched  the  assailant. 

All  the  other  prisoners  followed  their  cacique's  example. 
Catching  at  the  Spaniards'  arms,  or  the  "pounder  where- 
with they  pounded  the  macs,"  each  "set  u])on  his  master 
therewith,  or  on  the  first  that  fell  into  his  hands.  'J'hey 
in;  de  use  of  the  lances  or  swords  they  met  with,  as  skil- 
fully as  if  they  had  been  bred  to  it  from  their  childhood ;  so 


'V  >u 


FLOUID.V  INDIANS. 


119 


tbat  oTio  of  tliorn,  witli  swonl  in  hand,  ina<lo  lioad  njjjjiltist 
Hftocii  or  twenty  men  in  tli(>  open  placM*,  until  lie  was  killed 
l»y  fill'  f<ivcnn)i''s  halhardicrs."  Another  (U'Speratcj  war- 
rjnr,  with  only  a  lance,  kept  possossion  of  the  room  wliero 
tile  Indian  corn  was  stored,  and  could  not  be  disl()d;i;e(l. 
Ifc  was  shut  tlirou<^di  an  aperture  in  the  roof  'Vlw.  Indians 
wnv  at  last  overpowered,  and  all  who  had  not  ])erish<'(l 
in  the  strug_L,de,  were  bound  to  stakes  and  }>ut  to  death. 
Tlicir  executioners  were  the  Indians  of  Paracoxi,  who  shot 
thcin  with  arrows. 

Najietaca,  the  scene  of  tliis  event,  was  left  by  tlie  Sj)an- 
ianls  in  tla^  latter  part  of  Se[)tember.  Forcinj^  their  way 
tbroutih  the  vast  swamps  and  over  the  deej)  and  miry 
Ptrciuns  that  intereepteil  their  path,  and  exposed  to  the 
attacks  of  the  reven^^'ful  proprietors  of  the  soil,  they  came 
to  the  town  of  U/achil,  somewhere  near  the  present  Oscilla 
river,  midway  b(!tween  the  Suwannc  and  Appalacliie(^Ia. 
Kncumbei'cd  with  horse.s,  bag^^age,  and  armor  as  they  were, 
tlieii'  progress  is  surprising.  Uzachil  was  deserted  by  the 
Indians,  and  the  troops  revelled  in  store  of  })rovisi()n  left 
hy  the  unfortunate  iidiabitants, 

Marauding  parties  of  trie  Spaniards  succeeded  in  seizing 
many  prisoner's,  both  meti  and  women,  who  were  chained 
hy  the  neck,  and  loaded  witli  baggage,  when  the  army 
rC'Commenced  tlieir  march.  'J'iie  poor  creatures  resorted 
to  every  metliod  to  effect  their  escape;  some  filing  their 
chains  in  two  with  flints,  and  others  running  awav,  when 
an  op])ortunity  offered,  with  the  badge  of  slavery  still 
attached  to  their  necks.  Those  who  failed  in  the  attem})t 
wore  cruelly  punished. 

The  natives  of  this  north-western  portion  of  Florida 
evinced  no  little  skill  and  good  management  in  the  con- 
struction of  their  dwellings  and  in  their  method  of  agricul- 
ture. The  houses  were  pronounced  "almost  like  the  farm- 
houses of  Spain,"  and  some  of  tlie  towns  were  rpute  populous. 


4*" 


U 


f* 


U.I 


t 

(..| 

:1 

1 

"1 
if 

1!  f 

i; 


!     t 


hK\  L 


■•;.  ::^ 


120 


INlilAN    UA»;i:S  OK  AMKUICA. 


M;ikirij(  n  liult  at  y\nliayca,  tlnj  c;ai>ital  town  of  tlio  dis- 
trict of  I'ulachc,  Di3  Soto  Hont  u  j)arty  to  \\c\y  the  scii-C()a.st. 
Tlu;  mc!M  c;oiiuiiisioii(!il  Cor  this  service  discovorcd  toki'iis 
('('  liic  ill-fated  c.xpcilition  of  Narvacz  at  Auto,  where  the 
live  boats  wore  built.  These  were  a  manger  hewn  from 
I  he  hunk  of  u  tree,  and  the  bones  of  the  horses  who  h.i'l 
li'Cii  killed  to  suj)|)Iy  the  means  (;f  outfit. 

he  Soto,  about  the  last  of  Nov(!niber,  sent  a  detach- 
nii'ut  back  to  the  bay  of  Kspiritu  Santo,  with  dir(;elioii.s 
lor  two  caravels  to  r(^j)air  to  Cuba,  and  the  other  vessels, 
which  had  not  already  been  order(!d  home,  to  come  round 
by  si'a  and  join  him  at  J'alaclu!.  Twenty  Indian  woiii'ii 
were  sent  as  a  j)resent  to  the  general's  wife.  Donna  Isabella, 

111  one  of  the  scouting  c.\j)editionH,  during  the  stay  at 
Palachc,  a  remarkabU;  instance  of  self-devotion  was  seen 
in  two  Indians,  whom  the  troops  came  upon  as  they  were 
gallii>ring  beans,  with  a  woman,  the  wife  of  one  of  them, 
in  their  conij)any.  "Though  they  might  have  saved 
themselves,  yet  they  chose  rather  to  die  than  to  abandon 
the  woman."  "They  wounded  three  horses;  whereof  one 
died,"  before  the  Spaniards  succeeded  in  destroying  them. 

Early  in  ^larcli,  1510,  the  Sj)anish  forces  were  put  in 
motion  for  an  expedition  to  ^\lpaha,  far  to  the  )U)rth-east. 
(lold  was  still  the  object  of  ^•'^ircli.  A  young  Indian, 
who  was  made  prisoncsr  at  Najjctaca,  alleged  that  he  had 
come  from  that  country,  and  that  it  was  of  great  extent 
and  richness.  He  said  that  it  was  subject  to  a  female 
cac'ique,  and  that  the  neighboring  tribes  jiaid  her  tribute 
in  gold,  "whereupon  he  described  the  manner  liow  that 
gold  was  dug,  how  it  was  melted  and  refined,  as  if  he  had 
seen  it  done  a  Inindred  times,  or  as  if  the  Devil  had  taught 
liim;  inasmuch  that  all  who  understood  the  manner  of 
working  in  the  mines,  averred  that  it  was  impossible  for  him 
to  speak  so  exactly  of  it,  without  having  seen  the  same." 

It  would  be  foreign  to  our  present  subject  io  follow  Do 


lifH' ' 


■':  >ii  i  II 


< 


m 


>'ll 


M 


rrrrlifi; 


I 


ffr 


,j    joiiriu'viiigs,  ] 

:!  jirtiirc.     Jt  II 

'.':   t!ii>  accounts 

;    tribes   tlirou! 

\   return  to  the  i 

j       As  lie  inov 

'   cciveJ  in   thd 

I   huts  wliich  SCI 

j  jiciiinsula,  the 

I  canes   placed 

I   Sunic   had  the 

I   woven,  that  th 

j   They  could  be 

was  there  pi 

were  roomy  an 

cuous  by  a  ba 

■diown  by  these 

Lirass  or  hbrous 

iiKuh;   leii'irins 

dressed  and  dy- 

The  most  re 

Xurlhcrn  cxplo 

''(■■■n  situated  1 

crneel  by  a  femj 

Jignity  and  ref 

Do  Soto  rcrnin 

Anthony,  as  de 

^)i'ought  down  te 

ill  the  stern  of  ; 

•1  pavilion  ovci 

and  skins  to  th 

pearls  about  his 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


121 


Soto  in  i\\\A  tijur;  aiiJ,  iiidcctl,  the  })Osition  of  many  of 
tlic  localities  ^vllich  arc  dosci'ibcd  by  hi>s  historians,  and 
the  distances  and  chroctions  of  liis  wearisome  and  j)erih)us 
jouniryings,  must,  at  tlie  present  day,  be  mattei's  of  eon- 
jtrture.  It  may  not,  liowever,  be  amiss  to  mention  brieily 
the  accounts  preserved  of  the  appearance  of  some  of  the 
tiihcs  through  whose  dominimis  he  j)assed  before  his 
return  to  tlie  nc^rth-wcstern  (hslriets  of  modern  I""lorida. 

iVs  he  nioved  noi'thward,  a  marked  change  was  ))er- 
ccived  in  tlie  builchngs.  Instead  (jf  tlie  grass-eoveivd 
huts  which  served  well  enough  in  the  genial  climate  of  the 
jiouinsLila,  the  people  of  'J'oalli  had  "for  their  rcxjf  little 
eiuies  placed  together  like  'rile;  they  were  veiy  neat. 
.Some  had  the  walls  made  of  poles,  so  artificially  inter- 
woven, that  they  seemed  to  be  built  of  Stone  and  lime." 
They  could  be  thoroughly  warmed  in  the  winter,  which 
was  there  pretty  severe.  I'he  dwellings  of  the  eaei([ues 
were  roomy  and  commodi(jus,  and  were  rendered  eons})!- 
(iious  by  a  balcony  over  the  entrance.  Great  skill  was 
.diown  by  these  people  in  the  maimfaeture  of  cloth  fi'om 
liTass  or  fibrous  bark,  and  the  deer  skins,  of  which  they 
made  leggins  and  other  articles,  were  admirably  well 
ilivssod  and  dyed. 

The  most  remarkable  of  the  countries  visited,  on  this 
Xurthern  exploration,  was  Culifachiqui,  su])j)osed  U)  have 
l)cvn  situated  far  up  the  Cliaiahdochee,  which  was  gov- 
erned l)y  a  female.  The  Spaniai'ds  were  astonished  at  the 
dignity  and  refinement  of  the  queen.  Iler  rccei>tion  of 
l)t!  Soto  reminds  one  of  Cleopatra's  first  meeting  with 
Anthony,  as  described  by  the  great  dramatist.  She  was 
brought  down  to  the  water  in  a  palanquin,  and  t^iere  seated 
in  the  stern  of  a  canoe,  upon  cushions  and  carpets,  with 
a  })avilion  overhead.  She  brought  presents  of  mantli's 
ami  skins  to  the  general,  and  hung  a  neck-lace  of  large 
l)earls  about  his  neck. 


^1  ■*'■ 


iW'- 


i 


^'1 


I'. .  I  .  <■■ 


w 


122 


INDIAN   llACES   OF   AMEIUCA. 


The  Indians  r)f  the  conntry  were  represented  as  "tawnv. 
wcll-sha])ed,  and  more  ])()]ite  than  any  befoiv  seen  in  Flur- 
'da."  Their  nmnhers  had  been  greatly  reduced,  two  years 
l^revious,  by  a  [.estilenee,  and  many  deserted  dweilin,i:s 
were  to  l)e  seen  around  the  town,  Tlio  accounts  given  of 
the  quantity  of  pearls  obtained  here,  by  searching  the 
places  of  sepulture,  are  inerechble. 

Departing  from  Cutifachifpii,  Dc  Soto  had  the  ingrati- 
tude to  carry  the  queen  along  with  him,  compelling  Iht 
even  to  go  on  foot.  "In  the  mean  time,  that  she  might 
deserve  a  little  consideration  to  be  had  for  her  still,"  she 
induced  the  Indians  by  whose  houses  the  cavalcade 
passed,  to  join  the  party,  and  lend  their  aid  in  carrying 
the  baggage.    She  succee(hHl,  finally,  in  making  her  escap(\ 

AVe  must  now  dismiss  l)e  Soto  and  his  band  upon  their 
long  journey  throngli  the  western  wilderness,  lie  diei] 
upon  the  Eed  IJiver,  and  those  of  his  companions  who 
escaped  death  from  exposure,  disease,  or  savage  weapons, 
years  after  the  events  above  described,  made  their  way 
down  the  ^Iississij)pi  to  the  gulf,  and  thence  reached  the 
Spanish  provinces  of  Afexico. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FROM  THE  CONQUEST  BY  DE  SOTO  TO  THE  YEAR  1818— MISSIONARY 

OPERATIONS  BY  THE    SPANIARDS — MOOKe's    INVASION  OF 

FLORIDA — BOWLES— WARS  OF  1812— DEFEAT  OF 

THE    SEMINOLES    BY    GENERAL    JACKSON. 

We  can  but  briefly  touch  upon  the  incidents  of  Flor- 
ida history  for  nearly  two  centuries  after  De  Soto's  inva- 
sion. The  French  Huguenot  refugees,  who  settled  upon 
St.  John's  river  in  VA'd,  found  the  natives  placable  Jiial 


m'\ 


^■^^■^ 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


123 


generous.  AUhongli  tlieir  kindness  was  but  ill  recipro- 
cated liv  tlic  colony,  no  verv  serious  difliculties  (cyjui-red 
between  the  two  races,  I'ho  power  and  self-confidenec 
of  the  Indians  had  been  broken,  and  tlieir  numbers  greatly 
rcdiieed  by  the  desoUUing  ravages  committed  by  the 
Spaniards. 

In  tiie  brutal  and  murderous  wars  between  the  Frencli 
ami  Spanish  colonics,  which  succeeded  the  new  attempts 
at  settlement;  the  Indians,  although  they  took  no  conspi- 
cuous ])art,  were  occasionally  involved  in  hostilities.  ^Die 
most  iinj)(jrtant  era  in  the  native  history  of  tliis  period,  is 
that  of  the  establishment  of  a  regular  missionary  system 
of  instruction. 

The  central  ])oint  of  these  operations  was  the  convent 
of  St.  Helena,  situated  at  St.  Augustine.  Don  Pedi'o  Men- 
cndez  de  Avilla,  the  Spanish  governor  who  founded  this 
town,  an<I  who  had  heen  cotnmissioned  by  the  king  of 
Sjiain  to  sjnvad  the  Catholic  religion  among  the  Indians, 
was  indefatigable  in  carrying  out  his  sovereign's  inten- 
tions. The  success  met  with  by  the  ecclesiastics  sent  forth 
among  the  various  tribes,  is  astonishing.  In  the  wilder- 
ncs'-'  of  central  Florida  may  still  be  seen  the  ruins  of 
buildings  erected  by  their  means  for  religious  exercises. 
Their  elforts  were  not  confined  to  the  vicinity  of  the  C(^l- 
onies:  emissaries  peneti-ated  the  western  forests,  even  to 
the  Mi3sissi])pi;  and  amid  the  rough  mountain  districts  of 
tlic  north,  they  were  to  be  found  living  with  the  In- 
dians, and  assiduously  instructing  them,  not  only  in  their 
religious  creed,  but  in  language  and  useful  arts. 

The  Sjnnish  inOuence  might  perhaj)S  have  been  main- 
tained over  the  Indians  during  the  existence  of  the  colony, 
but  for  the  jealous  suspicions  of  Cabrana,  who  was  made 
governor  in  1G80,  He  put  to  death  the  principal  chief  of 
the  Yerpas(>es,  or  innabitants  of  East  Florida,  upon  an 
aci^UKytlon  of  li;i\u;u-  (dven  aid  and  comfovt  to  the  Fn<;lish 


4! 

'                   i 
i 

,      r'            1         1 

i   t 


1.1 


,:r'  k 


ii   ■' 


|:i:ij44r 


<  ii 


iiili 


124 


INDIAN  UACES   OF  AMEUICA. 


gftllers  on  th(3  St.  .Julin's,  tluMi  called  May  river.    The  con 
sequence  of  this  act  was  a  lon^  and  troublesome  war. 

The  unfortunate  Indians  were  i.\)V  many  years  after  this 
event  made  the  to(;ls  of  the  hostile  Euro})eau  colonics: 
(ii'st  in  the  Fj-ench  and  Spanish  wars,  and  afterwai'ds,  in 
1702  and  1701,  when  governor  Mcjore,  of  South  Carolina, 
invaded  I'lorida. 

In  the  north-western  districts  of  the  peninsula  dw'clt  the 
A])palachees;  the  rest  of  the  countiy  was  inhabited  by 
the  N'emasccs.  These  two  nations  had  formerly  been  u])ou 
tei'i'  s  of  the  bitterest  enmity,  but  had  been  reconciled  by 
the  niedi.  ion  of  the  Spaniards,  Moore,  followed  by  a  cou- 
sithi'uble  bod}^  of  Knglish,  and  a  large  force  of  Creek 
Indians,  ravaged  nearly  the  whole  country,  beginning  at 
Aj)palaehee,  and  proceeding  south-easterly  to  the  Atlantic 
sea-board,  lie  carried  away  many  Indians  of  the  cou- 
quei'cd  tribes  to  the  English  plantations  as  slaves. 

After  a  long  pei'iod  of  hopeless  and  j)rohtless  warfare, 
in  which  they  had  nothing  to  gain  by  success,  and  by 
means  of  wdueli  they  were  disabled  from  agi'icultuie  and 
deprived  of  a  settled  abode,  the  scattered  rennianls  of  the 
Indian  tribes  gradually  took  up  their  quarters  in  the  heart 
of  the  country,  and  further  towards  the  South.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  they  acquired  the 
name  of  Seminoles,  said  to  signify  "wanderers." 

In  the  year  17*J2,  an  unprincipled  adventurer  from  Eng- 
land, named  Bowles,  made  strenuous  attempts  to  excite 
the  hostility  of  the  Indians  against  the  Spanish  settlers. 
Tailing  in  a  direei  attempt  to  plunder  an  Indian  trading- 
house  on  the  St.  John's,  and  finding  himself  abandoned  by 
his  associates,  he  betook  himself  to  the  Creeks,  married  a 
■woman  of  that  tribe,  and  persuaded  the  Indians  that  the 
store  of  goods  which  he  had  attacked  belonged  rightfully 
to  them,  lie  met  with  considerable  success  in  deceiving 
the  simple-minded  natives,  and,  assisted  by  several  chieid 


P^'V: 


1\ 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


12rj 


of  tlic  Creek  nation,  he  got  possession  of  tlie  r<ji-li'css  of 
St.  Marks,  Delivering  liinisolt'  u})  to  I'itjt  ami  di-uiiken- 
in'ss,  with  his  followers,  it  proved  no  (liHicult  t:isk  l\>v  ike 
Spaiiisli  troops  to  retake  the  lort.  Jlowles  was  ailowi'il  to 
es(.';i])e,  but  was  afterwards  delivered  up  by  his  Indian 
allies,  an(l  taken  to  Cul)a  a  prisoner.  The  Seniinoles  were 
partially  involved  in  the  wars  of  1812  and  the  two  sueeeed- 
uvj:  years,  when  the  Ainerieans  invaded  I'dorida.  Their 
chief  leaders  were  King  Payne  and  his  brother,  the'  nolvA 
Boleek  or  Bowdegs.  Having  done  no  little  damage  by 
hariiing  buildings  and  plundering  the  })huitations  in  their 
vicimty,  they  jnirposed  to  mareh  northwai'd,  but  wei'e  en- 
gaired  ami  routed  neai'er  home,  by  (leneral  Xewman,  with 
a  hoilv  of  troops  fi'(;m  (}eorgia.  This  foree  having  tirossed 
the  St.  .lohn's,  marehed  into  Alaehua,  and  eneountered 
Payne  within  afewniilesof  his  head-qnartiM's.  '^J'he  Indians 
feULflit  bravely,  but  could  not  resist  the  .superior  skill 
of  the  whiles.  Payne  was  killed,  and  his  inen  weie  diivi-n 
oil"  in  the  first  engagcin(>nt,  but  they  rallied,  and  retui'ued 
to  the  atttiek  with  redoubled  encrg^y.  They  po.s.sessed  them- 
selves of  the  body  of  tlu:ir  chief;  and  aftei'wai'ds  suri-ound- 
iiig  the  American  forces,  kept  th(Mii  in  a  state  of  siege  for  u 
number  of  days,  imperfectly  ])rotected  by  a  structure  of  h  )gs. 

After  this  j)eriod,  and  previous  to  the  cession  of  the  k'lor- 
idas  to  the  United  States,  the  ail'airs  of  the  Seininohs  and 
their  American  neighbors  were  unsettled,  and  some  bloody 
scenes  were  enacted.  Fugitive  .slaves  from  the  adjoining 
f.tates  ibuud  a  secure  asvlum  among  the  immense  wild.s  oi' 
the  iiiarsiiy  and  uniidiabited  tei'ritory  of  the  Floi'itlas,  and 
coiillit'ting  claims  of  Indians  and  whites  respecting  nt'grors 
long  'after  formed  a  fertile  source  of  quarrel  and  complaint. 
Some  of  the  Seminoles  became  pos.sessed  of  large  immbeis 
o!'  .shive.s,  holding  tliem  by  undisputed  title. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1818,  Geiu^ral  Jacks'^n,  -".vith 
more  than  three  thous;ind  men,  over  one  half  of  whom  were 


i»?' 


S 


ri 


I  w 


mm 


Mt'i'^i 


iij 


*K'':j|l| 


h 


im 


(''  i 


.|i  Mi 


!    1' 


io« 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Creek  warriors,  marclicd  into  AVest  Florida  to  punisli  an^l 
check  tlic  rava^cii  of  the  Scniinoles.  With  litth"  ()pi)()siti"ii 
fi'oin  the  inhabitants,  the  towns  surrounding  the  hike  of 
Miccosukie  wei'c  destroyed,  and  much  booty,  in  corn  juid 
cattle,  was  secured.  'J'he  Indian  villages  upon  the  Oseilla 
and  St,  Mark's  rivers,  known  "S  the  Fowcl  towns,  met  with 
a  similar  fate.  St.  Mai'ks  was  soon  after  occupied  by  llic 
invaders,  and,  in  the  ensuing  month,  the  great  body  of  the 
Scininoles,  aided  by  large  iiumbers  of  negroes,  was  defeated 
on  the  borders  of  the  Suwanee,  and  several  hundred  were 
trdvcn  prisoners.     The  rest  fled  into  East  Florida. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

COMMENCEMENT    OF    THE    LATE    FLORIDA  WAR — TREATY   OF    MOUL- 
TRIE CREEK — TREATY   OF   PAlNi'.'s    LANDING — OSCEOLA DE- 

STRUCIION    OF    DADE's    COMMAND — RATTLE    OF    THE 

OUITKLACOOCIIIE — CONFERENCE  WITH   INDIAN 

CHIEFS.  BY  GENERAL  GAINES. 

"*         *         *         ILirk,  that  quick,  fierce  cry, 
That  rends  the  utter  silence;  'tis  the  whoop 
Of  battle,  luul  a  throng  of  savagi;  men, 
With  naked  arms,  and  faces  stained  like  blood, 
Fill  the  green  wilderness.        *        *        * 
*         *         *         *  Soon  the  conquerors 

And  conquered  vanish,  and  the  dead  remain, 
Gashed  iiorribly  with  tomahawks." — Bryant. 

AFT]i:R  the  whole  country  had  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  American  govermnent,  it  was  thought  necessary  to 
take  steps  to  secure  the  frontiers  of  the  white  settlements 
from  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  and  to  confine  the  lat- 
ter to  certain  specified  districts.  In  the  year  1823,  there- 
fore, on  the  ISth  of  September,  a  treaty  was  concKided 


FLORIDA   INDIANS. 


12: 


at  tlie  e;iinp  on  ^[(Miltric  Ci'oek,  betwct'ii  commissioners 
from  the  I'liited  States  anil  a  niinilu'r  of  Seniinolo  eliiefs, 
wlicR'liy  it  was  sti|Hil;itc(I:  that  all  territory  not  reservcil 
livtlic  articles  slionlil  ))ass  to  the  American  ^/overnnuMit  ; 
that  the  Indians  shonld  confine  themselves  to  a  hiru'i  dis- 
trict described  by  conrses  ami  bounds  in  the  hearc  of  the 
peninsula;  that  fugitive  slaves  should  be  delivered  up, 
the  reasonable  expenses  of  securing  them  being  provided 
for;  and  that  certain  sums  should  be  paid  by  the  gov- 
ernment to  compensate  for  the  expenses  and  losses  of  re- 
iiKtval,  and  to  establish  tlie  Indians  comfortably  in  their 
new  quarters.  Various  m.inor  ])articulars  were  ernbodied  in 
the  treaty,  which  was  sigm^d  with  mark  and  seal,  on  the 
]>art  of  the  Seminoles,  by  the  princi[)al  chief  Micanopy; 
ly  Tuske  Ilajo,  Emathlochee,  Kconchatinnco,  Tokose- 
niatlila  (known  as  Hicks),  Charley  Amatlda,  Tustenugiie, 
Jelm  Blunt,  Mulatto  King,  Phili]>,  Nea  Mathla,  and  twenty- 
one  others,  jiossessed  of  or  claiming  the  imthoi'ity  of  chiefs. 

An  exception  was  made,  by  an  additional  article,  in 
f;ivor  of  six  of  the  signers;  wiio  were  aUowed,  in  eonsicl- 
eration  of  former  services,  to  rcnuiin  upon  the  lands  then 
occuj)iedby  them. 

Micanopy  is  described  by  Williams  as  a  "large  fat  man, 
rather  obtuse  in  mtellect,  but  kind  to  his  people  and  slaves." 

The  Indians  were  removed  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  a.greemcnt,  and,  until  183."),  no  serious 
hostilities  took  place  between  them  and  the  whites.  Com- 
plaints were,  indeed,  made  on  both  sides  of  unredressed 
wrongs  and  outrages.  The  Alachuan  settlers  lost  their 
cattle,  and  attributed  the  thefts  to  the  Indians:  on  tlie 
other  hand,  the  Indians  complained,  with  justice,  of  num- 
berless mipositions  and  deceptions  to  which  they  were 
exposed  in  their  intercourse  with  unprincipled  traders 
aud  speculators. 

To  quiet  all  disturbance  it  was  at  last  deemed  expedient 


'■'i^$' 


m 


•i 


> 


•11'!  I 


':!.!'';•■ 


i'lA  ■'■■  1*1 


ii ::  ;■: 


t'', 


I A 


■  H   ' 


m 


~1, 


12S 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


by  tlio  American  govcrninciit,  to  efTcct  an  entire  removal 
of  the  Scmiiiolcs  to  the  west  of  tlie  Mississijipi.  Aecorrl- 
iii^ly,  u  meeting  w;vs  apjjointeil  ])y  Mieanopy  and  the  gov- 
ernment emissai'ius,  to  be  hehl  at  Pavne's  Laiubng,  on  t 


lie 


Oekhiwaha  rivei",  on  the  eighth  <">r  Nhiy,  18.'j'J.  l-'iflccii 
cliicifs  were  j^vescnt,  and,  after  nuich  ui'gnmcnt,  signed  an 
agreement,  in  b  hall' of  themselves  and  their  people,  to 
aeeede  to  the  proposals  of  govennnent;  provided  tin-  new- 
lands  assigned  them  should  prove  acceptable  to  a  dejiiita- 
tion  frojii  their  nnmber  who  shonld  first  go  to  make  exam- 
ination, 'riie  Tnited  States  were  to  })ay  the  tribe  lihecn 
thousand  fonr  hnndi'ed  di)l];u's,  and  the  removal  was  lo 
tak(!  place  within  three  years.  Th(>  authority  of  the  sign- 
ers of  this  treaty  to  bind  the  whole  of  the  Seminole  trilies 
has  bcMMi  fVerpiently,  and  with  no  little  rcast)n,  called  in 
cpiestion.  Certain  it  is,  that  to  a  majority  of  the  nation 
the  pi'oj>osition  was  highly  distasteful. 

Several  chiefs,  with  Mieanopy's  prime  counsellor  Abra- 
ham, an  astute  negro,  uiulertook  the  survey  of  tlu*  west- 
ern reserve,  and  signed  a  writing  expressive  of  their  satis- 
faction with  its  aj)pcarance.  It  was  claimed  bv  th<>  In- 
dians, and  their  ]>artisans,  that  some  deeej)li(;ii  was  usid 
both  in  the  wording  of  this  eei'tificate,  and  genei-allv  as 
to  the  conclusiveness  of  the  arrangements  entered  intu  at 
Pavne's  Landiiifif. 

As  the  end  of  the  term  prescribed,  within  which  tliev 
must  leav(!  their  homes,  drew  near,  ojiposition  to  remmal, 
and  determination  to  resist  it,  continued  to  gain  firc!' 
among  the  Indians.  They  complained  of  the  aec(jun*s 
brought  them  of  the  belligerent  character  of  the  sa\  aiiis 
who  would  bc!  their  near  neighbors,  and  strenuous!\-  i^!'- 
jeeted  to  a  jdan,  set  on  A)ot  at  Washington,  for  miiling 
their  tribe  with  that  of  thei^  old  enemies  the  Creeks. 

Serious  disturbances  co.  i  '  !iced  in  ISoo.  Some  moatiis 
previously,  Avhites  had  been,  U2)on  one  or  two  oeeasiuns. 


#■ 


I 


I 


1  '^lA 


^f 


a  If: 

'  ^  'i' 

■  i 

1 

s 

/, 

■  /  (■ 

1 

f  • 

ill 


1   I 


ir  ii 


ii>^  ■ 


i«  t : 


fircfl    iijiori    1)' 

I  juhI  iiiiiirics,  ] 

j   two  nations. 

j  (Till  Indians  U( 

]'()ii(l,  not  far 

R'veii   wliitcs, 

lu'fitintr  tlunn  \ 

.«(n-('ral  were  w 

(liaiis  were  kil 

'"'  tlio  coinnie: 

slii'il,  bnt  was  s 

ri'Icr,  upon  ]iij 

to  Fort  Kinff.  i 

u-as  found  haclv 

It  now  appea: 

tain  tlieir  gron 

and  iKjardini'  <n 

nnnibors  were  v 

crs  known  to  I 

considered  then 

tlifso  circumstar 

edge  of  the  im 

at  any  moment 

war  with  tliem  n 

and  miglit  be  ini 

The  young  c 

inately  associatec 

tbat  suceeeded, 

acuteness,  ener!x\ 

He  was  a  quad  re 

French  "Baton  ] 

being  a  lialf-bree 

li.'^hnian  named  : 

ehief     Osceola  li 

vious  couneils,  i 


VSCEOl.Jt. 


-'S'^i? 


FLOHIDA  INDIANS. 


1-J1> 


firnl  ujKHi  l)y  \]\o  Tiidians,  .'ind  nmtu.'il  wrongs,  nisu]fs, 
iiiid  iiiiiirics,  luid  excited  genend  ill-feeling  between  the 
two  iKitions.  In  tin;  month  of  Oetcdter,  of  this  yeur,  sev- 
eral Indians  were  detected  in  kil'ing  a  cow  near  Kenapaha 
junid,  not  far  fi'oni  Mieeosnkie.  'I'hey  were  set  n|)()n  hy 
seven  whites,  who  seized  tlieir  arms,  and  eominciiciil 
heating  tliem  with  whips.  An  afTray  suceeeded,  in  wiii'h 
several  were  wounded  on  both  sides,  and  two  of  the  in- 
iliaiis  were  killed  outright.  This  may  be  considered  to 
lie  the  commencement  of  the  war:  it  was  the  first  blood 
slied,  but  was  soon  followed  by  other  outrages.  'V\\c  mail 
rider,  upon  liis  route  from  Fort  l^rooke,  on  Tampa  r>ay, 
to  Fort  King,  fell  a  victim  to  Indian  revenge;  his  body 
was  found  hacked  and  mutilated. 

It  now  appeared  that  the  Seminolea,  determined  to  main- 
tain their  ground,  had  been,  for  some  time,  purchasing 
and  luxirding  great  stores  of  arms  and  ammunition.  I'heir 
nniiilxn's  were  considerable;  they  had  among  them  lead- 
ers known  to  be  bold,  determined,  and  sagacious;  they 
considered  themselves  wnjuged  and  oppressed;  and  all 
these  circumstances,  combined  with  their  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  impassable  wilderness  to  which  they  could 
at  any  moment  retire,  convinced  the  discerning  that  a 
war  with  them  must  be  fraught  with  danger  and  difiieulty, 
and  might  be  indefinitely  protracted. 

The  young  chief,  Osceola,  whose  name  is  more  inti- 
mately associated  than  any  other  with  the  bloody  events 
that  succeeded,  now  began  to  attract  attention  for  liis 
acuteness,  energy,  and  determined  hostility  to  the  whites. 
lie  was  a  quadroon  of  the  lied  Stick  (a.  glicized  from  tlu; 
French  "Baton  Eouge")  tribe,  of  Micoosukie;  his  mother 
being  a  half-breed,  and  his  father  supposed  to  be  an  I'hig- 
lishnian  named  Powel — a  name  ordinarily  borne  by  the 
chief.  Osceola  had  opposed  the  plan  of  removal  at  pre- 
vious councils,  with  great  vigor,  aud  on.  one  occasion 
9 


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JMMAN    UACK.S  OF  AMKUICA. 


(IcincMtKMl  liiinscir  witli  sudi  violence  tliut  lio  was  scizoil 
])\'  (icncral  'riioiniisoii,  the  ;^f<)vi'rimi<'iit  n^^'cnt,  luid  kept  f  >r 
a  (lay  or  two  coiitiiu'd  in  Irtfcrs.  I)issi'iiil»liii,!^  his  ra;.^', 
Ill',  for  a  tiiiic,  tiiana^^'d  to  disaiiii  susiiicioii;  hriii^riri'j  in 
u  gri'at  nuinbcr  of  his  followers,  and  solemnly  ratifying 
the  treaty. 

His  true  purpos(>s  and  feeliiif^'s  were  first  known  by  tli(; 
)>art  he  took  in  tli(!  iniirdci' of  .John  Hicks  and  Chailiy 
Ainathla,  two  chiefs  who  had  been  j)roniinent  in  forward- 
in,!^  the  treaty  of  ninoval,  lie  obtaineil  ^reat  Jiscendamy 
f'oi'  himself  and  followers  amonj^  the  whole  nation  of  the 
Scminoles;  and  mainly  through  his  inllnence,  instead  n\' 
collecting  their  cattle  and  stock  for  apjtraisal,  at  tlu'  tiinf 
when  they  were  notified  that  tlu^y  must  leave  tlu;  eounttv, 
the  warriors  of  tlu;  tribe  secreted  their  women  and  chil- 
dren in  swamps  remote  fi'om  white  settlements,  and  scoured 
the  country  in  hostile  attitude. 

Troops  were  ordered  to  Floriihi  from  various  ([u;ir- 
t(M-s.  ^^ajor  Dade,  arriving  at  Tampa  Bay,  with  a  com- 
jia'iy  of  United  States'  infantry,  being  Wdnforced,  with  two 
other  companies,  started,  on  the  24th  of  December,  to 
the  relief  of  General  Clinch,  at  Fort  King,  IHs  i'oivo 
consisted  of  over  one  hundred  regular  tr(x)])S,  supjili-'d 
with  ten  days'  provision:  they  took  with  them  a  sniall 
li(dd-pieee.  Some  delay  occurred  upon  the  march,  owin^r 
to  the  diniculty  of  transporting  the  cannon,  and  on  tho 
2Sth  they  had  advanced  no  farther  than  a  few  miles  to 
the  northward  of  the  forks  of  the  Ouithlacoochec.  Mov 
they  were  attacked  by  an  unknown  multitude  of  Indians, 
under  the  connnand  of  Micano])y,  and  his  brother-in-law, 
the  celebrated  Jumper,  who  had  avoided  signing  the 
treaty  of  Afoultrie  Creek.  ''Jdio  savages  were  crouching 
among  the  long  wire-grass,  and  protected  by  the  trunks 
of  the  j)ine-trccs,  wlien  they  commenced  their  fn-e.  Tin; 
effect  was  deadly;    Major  Dade  and  a  great  number  of 


his  men  were 

c'ontinue(l  fo 

a.-*  possible    i 
poured  in  the 
the  fi(dd,     I'iv 
sli,ulit  protect i 
j.itics.      Tin 
j    t!irce,  and,  sui 
I    iicarly  every 
j    j)()ssession  of 
Indians  retina 
i    to  jiave  come 
knocking  out  t 
csi'iiped,  being 
tiny  lay  woum 
One  of  these  w 
deavoring  to  n 
three,  cautiously 
iioss,  arrived  sa 
On  the  same 
nuuid,  Osceola  i 
iral  Wiley  ^J'jio 
as  before  menti 
'iencral  Thomp 
Hogers,  within 
^vas  beset  by  Ii 
company,     Tho 
rest  escaped  to  t 
Tn  the  con.  o 
dcstroycid    in    d 
on  the  Indian  re 
Oil  the  last  day 
heen  stationed  t 
Fort  King,  bein 
quartcv  with  a 


FLOUIDA  INDIANS. 


181 


his  men  woro  killed  at  tlic  first  disdiarf^o.  Tho  soldiers 
continued  ti)  (itrlit  hnivcly,  sliolt(>rin<^  tliciiisolvcs  us  well 
n?  |i<)ssil»k!  behind  trees;  and,  jus  tho  Indians  rost*  up, 
[loiuvd  in  their  firo  so  briskly  as  to  drive  the  (Miemy  from 
the  lii'ld.  Kvery  instant  was  now  oeeuj)icd  in  fbiinin,t; 
sliifht  ])roteetion  })y  cutting  and  l>iling  up  the  truid<s  of 
]iiii('S.  The  Indians,  however,  so(Mi  returned  in  great 
tiircc,  and,  surrounding  tho  litth;  entronelunent,  destroyed 
nearly  every  man  of  tho  company,  Aflor  they  had  taken 
jiossession  of  tho  arms  -whieli  lay  scattered  around,  the 
Indians  retired,  but  a  body  of  mounted  negroes  are  said 
to  Jiavo  eomc  uj),  and  finished  the  murderous  work  by 
kiKX'king  out  tho  brains  of  the  wounded.  Only  four  men 
csciiped,  being  passed  over  by  the  negroes  and  Indians,  as 
thoy  lay  wounded  and  motionless  among  the  dead  bodies. 
One  of  these  was  killed  on  tlic  following  day,  while  en- 
deavoring to  make  his  way  back  to  the  fort:  the  other 
three,  cautiously  threading  their  path  through  the  wilder- 
ness, arrived  safe  at  Tampa  Bay. 

On  the  same  day  with  the  destruction  of  Dade's  com- 
mand, Osceola  revenged  himself  upon  his  hated  foe.  Gen- 
oral  Wiley  Tiiornpson,  by  whom  he  had  been  imprisone<l, 
as  before  mentioned.  A  company  of  nine,  among  them 
General  Thompson,  were  dining  at  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Kogers,  within  fiRy  rods  of  Fort  King,  when  the  house 
was  beset  by  Indians,  and  a  volley  poured  in  upon  the 
company.  Thompson  and  four  others  were  killed;  tlic 
rest  escaped  to  the  fort. 

In  the  cou.  e  of  the  month,  various  plantations  were 
dfstroycid  in  different  parts  of  tho  country  bordering 
on  the  Indian  reserve,  and  some  skirmishing  took  place. 
On  the  last  day  of  December,  General  Clinch,  who  had 
been  stationed  at  Fort  Grane,  thirty  miles  north-west  of 
Fort  King,  being  on  his  march  towards  Osceola's  head- 
quartc'    with  a  considerable  force  of  Florida  volunteers 


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132 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


and  about  two  Imndrcd  rcgulur  trooj)s,  encountered  the 
enemy  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Ouithlacooehee. 

The  Indians,  numbering,  as  was  supposed,  about  six 
hundred,  headed  by  Osceohi,  fell  upon  the  first  division 
of  the  American  army  that  had  effected  the  passage  of  the 
river.  Tlic  stream,  contrary  to  expectation,  was  in  no 
place  fordable,  and  the  only  means  of  crossing  was  by  a 
single  canoe;  the  horses  passed  the  river  by  swimming. 
The  Indian  commander  evinced  great  bravery  and  con- 
summate marksminship,  and  his  men,  firing  from  tlie  cover 
of  a  thick  growth  of  underwood,  and  from  behind  trees, 
proved  difficult  o])ponents  to  dislodge.  The  troops,  with 
one  or  two  slight  exceptioiis,  stood  firm,  and  after  repeated 
charges,  drove  the  Indians  from  the  field.  In  this  'gage- 
meut  more  than  fifty  Americans  Avere  wounded,  and  sev- 
eral killed;  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  reported  to  have 
been  over  one  InmdrfAl. 

Additional  troojis  from  Louisiana,  and  forces  connected 
with  the  marine  service,  were  collected  at  Tampa  Bay;  and 
a  large  detachment,  under  General  Gaines,  marched  to  Foit 
King,  where  they  arrived  on  the  22d  of  February.  Pio- 
visions  being  scarce,  and  the  state  of  the  roads  being  sueh 
that  supplies  could  not  be  easily  procured,  Gaines  and  liis 
force  commenced  their  return  to  Tampa,  by  the  route  for- 
merly taken  by  Clinch,  across  the  Ouithlacooehee.  Ou 
the  bank  of  the  river,  no  great  distance  from  the  scene 
of  the  hust  battle,  the  army  was,  in  a  manner,  surrounded 
and  besieged,  for  more  than  a  week,  by  Indians,  apparently 
to  the  number  of  from  one  to  two  thousand.  A  galling 
fire  was  kept  up  at  every  exposed  point.  Word  was  sent 
to  Fort  Drane,  where  General  Clinch  was  stationed,  for 
relief,  as  the  provisions  of  the  army  were  nearly  expentled. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  a  conference  was  held  between 
the  American  officers  and  three  of  the  principal  Indian 
chiefs — Osceola,  Jumper,  and  Alligator.     The  camp  had 


hM' 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


-I  .  I  .  . 
xoo 


been  liailcd  during  tlie  previous  niglit,  and  a  wish  for  a 
parley  expressed  on  the  pai't  of  the  savages.  The  chiefs 
professed  a  desire  for  j)cace;  said  they  were  weary  of  war, 
and  tliat,  if  they  could  be  allowed  to  retire  quietly  beyond 
the  Ouithlaeoochee,  and  could  remain  there  unmolested, 
they  would  create  no  further  disturbance.  They  were 
informed  that  the  general  had  no  authority  to  conclude 
any  agreement  with  them,  and  that  their  only  course  was 
to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of  the  government,  as 
forces,  which  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  resist, 
w(>re  on  their  way  to  enforce  submission.  The  Indian 
chiefs  wished  for  an  opportunity  to  take  counsel  with  their 
pvat  King  Micanopy,  before  returning  an  answer;  but 
(icncral  Clinch  appearing,  with  the  desired  relief,  and 
cii'j-.i'jing  with  a  detachment  of  the  Indians,  the  mectinfr 
was  l)i'oken  up.  'J'liey  agreed,  however,  before  retiring. 
tn  (haw  off  their  warriors  to  the  south  bank  of  the  river, 
mill  to  hold  themselves  ready  to  attend  further  council 
wiit'ii  iiotifieil. 

Xnthiiig  further  was  cftrcted,  and  the  combined  Amer- 
ican forces  returned  to  Fort  Drane. 


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13-i  INDIAN   HACKS   OF  AMERICA* 


CHAPTER  V. 

COMiITIO.N   OK   HAST    FI-OHIDA (iKNKHAL    SCOTT's  CAMPAIP.N GAR. 

RISON  l!KSIK(;i:i)0.\  THH  OU  ITH  LACOOCIIKK OCCIIRKKNCKS   DUIN 

INi;  TIIK  .Sr.MMKR  Ol-    I'^'M') AKllU'AI.  OK  CHKKK  AI.LIICS 

COLONKI,  LA.NKS'  KXlMvDlTION  KKOM  TAMI'A BATTLES 

OF  THI-:   WAIIOO    SWAMP GHNKKAL  JICSSCP   AP- 

POINTKD  TO  THK    COM.HAND  I.\   FLOKIUA. 

"*     *     And  tlicro  iiro  tail's  of  sad  reality 
In  tlio  dark  k-yiMids  of  tliy  border  war." 

IIalleck. 

By  this  time  grievous  injury  hud  Ixv  n  done  bv  the 
Indians  to  tlic  settlements  in  East  FL-il:*.  Philip  wiia 
the  principal  leader  in  the  devastations  that  took  place 
in  that  region.  New  Smyrna,  at  ^losquito  Inlet,  was 
destroyed,  and  the  plantations  upon  Halifax  river,  to  the 
northward  of  the  town,  were  ravaged  and  the  settlers  driven 
off.  The  white  inhabitants  of  the  interior  were  every 
where  obliged  either  to  abandon  their  homes,  or  to  erect 
defences  and  to  establish  s  regular  watch. 

General  Scott  having  been  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  army  in  Florida  during  the  spring  of  this  year 
(1836),  formed  a  plan  to  penetrate  the  heart  of  the  country, 
with  a  large  force,  from  three  different  quarters  simultii- 
ueou.sly,  and  thus  surround  the  Indians,  and  cut  off  their 
retreat.  Generals  Clinch  and  Eiistice,  and  Colonel  Lindsey 
were  appointed  to  lead  the  three  divisions.  General  Clinch's 
])arty  was  attended  by  General  Scott  in  person.  The  arniv 
was  put  in  motion  in  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  March. 

The  service  was  accomplished,  but  with  little  good 
effect.  The  Indians,  possessing  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
country,  instead  of  apposing  the  advancing  columns  in 
force,  hung  about  the  flanks  and  rear  of  the  army,  and  kept 


up  a  vexatic 
took  jilacc,  al 
days  at  Tani})J 
iiioiits  were  o| 
attack  the  en( 
ravage  the  c( 
and  another  tl 
Little  bene! 
|iai,i:n:  a  carej 
laid  down,  at  i 
(if  Xew  Kngli 
:   -iiiia,  Cajitain 
!   far  more  de(:i( 
:       A  small  del 
]   middle  of  Mai 
in  a  rude  bui 
;    Xnt  having  b 
'   wore  su[)pose( 
!   no  utteinpt  wa 
latter  part  of  '. 
to  escape  the  -^ 
intelligence  of 
jiai'ty  had  bee 
tliau  two  mont 
lionse  had  bee 
that  they  were 
and  their  prov 
was  sent  to  the 
down  to  it  in  i. 
As  the  seaso 
climate  produ( 
fevers  of  the  c 
mated,  and  th 
arduous  camp; 
ceased;  the  vc 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


135 


up  a  vexatious  skirmi.sliing.  Xo  important  engngcmcnt 
took  place,  and  tlie  tliroc  divisions,  after  lying  for  a  few 
davs  at  Tampa,  were  again  put  in  motion.  Separate  detaeli- 
laents  were  ordered  to  proceed,  one  to  Fort  Drane,  one  to 
attack  the  enemy  at  Pease  Creek,  to  the  southward,  one  to 
ravage  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ouithlaeoochee, 
aial  another  to  march  to  Volusia. 

Little  benefit  appears  to  have  resulted  from  the  cam- 
jiaiirn:  a  careful  attention  to  the  })lans  of  Indian  warfare 
laiil  down,  at  an  earlier  age,  by  Captain  Benjamin  Church, 
i(f  Xew  England,  or  by  the  redoubtable  pioneer  of  Yir- 
uiiiia,  Cajitain  John  Smith,  might  have  produced  effects 
l;ir  more  decided. 

A  small  detachment  of  troops  had  been  left,  about  the 
iiijildlc  of  ]\[arcli,  to  guard  a  quantity  of  provision,  stored 
ill  a  rude  building  fifteen  miles  up  the  Ouithlaeoochee. 
Xnt  having  been  heard  from  for  many  Aveeks  after,  they 
were  supposed  to  have  been  cut  off  by  the  Indians,  and 
IK)  attempt  was  made  to  relieve  them  until  towards  the 
latter  part  of  iNfay,  wlien  three  of  the  garrison  managed 
to  escape  the  vigilance  of  their  Ijcsiegers,  and  to  convey 
iiitellimmce  of  their  condition  to  Tallahassee.  ^I'lie  small 
pally  had  been  defending  their  post  gallantly  for  more 
than  two  months  against  hosts  of  the  enemy;  their  block 
liniiso  had  been  partially  destroyed  over  their  heads,  so 
that  they  were  exposed  to  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather, 
and  their  provision  consisted  entirely  of  corn.  A  steamer 
was  sent  to  the  river's  mouth,  and  the  company  was  brought 
down  to  it  in  a  barge. 

As  the  season  advanced,  the  enervating  influence  v">f  the 
climate  produced  its  natural  effect  upon  the  troops.  The 
fevers  of  the  country  attacked  those  wdio  were  not  accli- 
mated, and  the  rest  were  but  poorly  conditioned  for  an 
arduous  campaign.  Active  operations  for  the  most  part 
ceased;  tlu  volunteers  were  discharged,  and  the  regular 


1.  - 


lli! 


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*•■* 


136 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMElilCA. 


soldiers  distributed  among  tlie  difTcrcnt  forts  exteiuliiitt 
from  St.  Auj^Mistiiie  across  the  country  to  the  Suwanne. 
Tlie  Indians  were  free  to  roam  where  they  hsted  through  the 
inunense  wilderness  to  the  southward,  and  to  hi}-  plans  (jf 
secret  attack  upon  ever}^  ex])osod  settlement  or  plantation. 

About  the  end  of  April,  a  terrible  massacre  took  place 
at  Chai'lotle  Harbor;  and  in  May  and  June,  the  couuti'v 
between  the  St.  Johns  and  the  Atlantic,  nearly  as  fur  iiorih 
as  St.  Augustine,  was  generally  ravaged  by  the  Jiidians. 
Their  attacks  extended  to  the  vicinity  of  Mandarin,  only 
sixteen  or  eighteen  miles  south  of  Jacksonville.  A  Mr, 
Motte,  residing  at  that  place,  was  murdered,  and  his  estab- 
lishment was  destroyed. 

J'^arly  in  June,  the  Indians,  emboldened  by  success  in  the 
destruction  of  plantations,  and  the  expulsion  of  the  whiles 
from  sueh  extensive  distriets,  beset  the  fort  at  Alicaiiojiv, 
which  was  garrisoned  by  a  com})any  under  the  conmiaiul 
■)[  Major  lleillman,  then  at  the  head  of  the  arm}-  west  of 
St.  John's  river.  1'hey  were  driven  oil"  but  not  without 
some  loss  on  the  part  of  the  whites. 

In  July,  Fort  Drane  had  become  so  unhealth}^  that  it 
was  thought  necessary  to  abandon  it.  As  the  troojjs  wi-re 
on  their  march  upon  the  evacuation  of  the  place,  llu'V 
had  a  sharp  brush  with  some  hundreds  of  Indians  who 
lay  in  wait  for  them  near  Welika  Pond,  in  the  vicinitv  of 
Mieanopy.  Towards  the  close  of  the  month  the  light- 
house at  Cape  Florida  was  destroyed.  The  kee])er,  named 
Thompson,  was  singularl)'  preserved  l)y  clinging  to  the  1()[) 
of  the  stone  wall  of  the  building,  while  the  wood-work 
was  burned  out  from  within.  After  the  Indians  had,  by 
their  own  act,  cut  off  the  means  of  access  to  the  sunmiit, 
they  descried  the  unfortunate  man,  half  dead  with  the  hrat 
and  smoke,  and  shot  at  him  a  long  time  without  elr'cct. 
lie  was  able  to  crouch  in  such  a  manner  ui)on  the  top  of  the 
vail  as  to  elude  their  aim,  until  they  took  their  departure. 


It  would  b( 
■  give  full  part 
murders  whie 
'   the  summer  o 
ascertained  tl 
lowers  were  s 
Draiic,  for  the 
iici^iliboring  I 
by  Major  Pier 
111  Se])temb 
way  to  within 
attaekoil  the  1 
iiiily  two  men 
ami  receiving 
i'ainilv,  thev  si 
linliaiis  had  ret 
t'l  Jackson  villi 
umler  ^Fajor  I 
trail,  the  comp 
t'Mi  miles  distan 
VA'j.  had  been  r 
I  if  its  proprietc 
been  scalped,  a 
one  of  the  savn 
to  extinguish  tli 
building.     In  t' 
lying  by  the  be 
Th(3  [)erpetr[ 
horses,  elVected 
Before  the  e 
Teimcssee  were 
a  thousand  Ore 
Boy,  came  to  lei 
pula.    An  army 
iug  the  Tenness 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


13; 


It  would  bc!  impnicticiible,  in  a  sketch  of  this  kind,  to 
give  full  particulars  of  the  skirmishing,  pluiuleriiig,  and 
murders  which  were  to  be  heard  of  on  every  side  during 
the  suninicr  of  I80G.  Aljout  tlie  niichlle  of  August,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Osceola  and  a  large  et)inj)an\'  of  liis  i'ol- 
lowers  were  staying  in  the  vicinity  of  the  aban(l)ned  Foit 
liraiie,  for  the  sake  of  securing  the  corn  growing  upon  the 
iK'iiihboring  plantations.  They  were  attacked  and  defeated 
bv  Major  Pierce. 

lu  Se})teinber  a  maraiuling  party  of  Indians  made  their 
\va\'  to  witliin  seven  miles  <jf  daeksonville,  wliere  they 
attaekiMl  the  house  of  Mr.  Iligginbotham.  I'here  were 
uiilvtwo  men  in  the  house,  but,  having  a  nuird)er  of  guns, 
ami  receiving  resolute  assistance  from  the  women  of  the 
I'aiiiily,  they  successfully  resisted  the  assault.  After  the 
Indians  had  retired,  IliirLnnbotham  hastened  with  all  speed 
ti)  Jacksonville,  and  procured  a  l»arty  of  twelve  men, 
uiidt.'r  Major  Hart,  to  j)ursue  them.  Taking  the  Indian 
tiail,  the  company  followed  it  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Johns, 
t"ii  miles  distant  from  the  scene  of  the  attack.  The  build- 
iiii:  had  been  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  halfd)urned  body 
(if  its  proprietor  lay  among  the  ruins.  Mrs.  Johns  had 
been  scalped,  and  left  to  nerish.  Before  their  departui-e, 
one  of  the  savages  set  fire  to  her  clothes,  but  she  man;iged 
tot'xtinguish  the  flame,  and  to  creep  away  from  the  bui-ning 
building.  In  this  miserable  condition  she  was  discovereil, 
lying  by  the  border  of  the  swamp,  and  kindly  eared  lor. 

Tlii.^  |)erpetrators  of  this  outrage,  having  secured  good 
liorst's,  ellected  their  escape. 

Before  the  end  of  this  month,  additional  forces  from 
Tennessee  were  brought  into  Florida,  and  a  body  of  nearly 
a  thousand  Creeks,  led  by  the  Chiefs  l^addy  Carr  and  Jim 
Boy,  came  to  lend  their  aid  against  the  Indians  of  the  penin- 
sula. An  army  of  from  one  to  two  thousand  men,  includ- 
iug  the  Tennessee  brigade,  under  Governor  Call,  marched, 


I 


\  > 


If 
t!    :l 

i'v 
=1 


'4. 


mi  ■■ 


'M'f| 


J 


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■1i 


ii 


'^1 

^^:H,; 

r^    -J 

i 

1 

\f: 

138 


INDlAxNT   RAC^S  OF  AMEWICA. 


in  the  beginning  of  October,  to  the  deserted  Fort  Drano 
bat  f(Miiul  tliat  tha  Tiidians  had  recently  left  their  (juartcrs 
in  that  neiglil:)(>r]ioo(L  The  trail  of  the  fugitives  was  f;!- 
1o".\ai  +o\vards  the  Ouithlacoochee,  but  the  ]nirsuit  of  suv- 
iiges,  in  their  own  country,  esj)ecially  in  such  a  eountiy  as 
Florida,  by  regular  troops,  cneumbeied  with  baggage,  aiiil 
igjiorant  of  the  fastness(>s  of  the  enemy,  proved  as  futile 
in  that  instance  as  upon  former  and  suljseciuent  occasions. 
Little  was  accomplished  against  the  enemy,  who  were  ena- 
bled, at  any  time,  to  retreat  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
])nrsuers,  and  only  showed  themselves  where  they  eouM 
attack  the  whites  at  a  (bsadvantage.  Under  existing  cir- 
cumstances, the  main  force  was  obliged  to  return  to  Fort 
Drane,  not  without  the  loss  of  a  great  number  of  their 
horses  from  hard  service  upon  indilTerent  food. 

Colonel  Lane,  with  a  strong  force  of  Creek  Indians  ami 
regular  troops,  made  an  excursion  into  the  enemy's  couiitrv 
from  Tampa  Bay,  during  the  eai'ly  ])art  of  this  month. 
Near  tlie  Ocklikany  Lake,  called  the  Spotted  Lake,  from 
the  great  number  of  small  wooded  islands  which  cover  it,'^ 
surface,  about  sixty  miles  from  "^J^unpa,  an  Indian  trail 
was  struck.  The  party  followed  this  track  to  the  south- 
ward, and  came  successively  upon  several  consideral»le 
Indian  villages  deserted  by  the  inhabitants.  Large  corn 
(ields  were  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  these  settlements,  ami 
some  hundreds  of  cattle  were  secured  by  the  Creek  Indians 
of  the  company.  At  one  advantageous  post,  where  tin' 
thick  underwood  on  the  borders  of  a  small  lake  offered 
protection  to  an  ambush,  the  Seminoles  attempted,  unsuc- 
(•essfully,  to  resist  the  invaders.  They  were  driven  out 
into  the  open  country  and  dis{)ersed.  Lane  and  his  detacii- 
ment  joined  General  Call  at  Fort  Drane  on  the  19th.  lie 
survived  this  service  but  a  few  days,  being  found  in  his 
tent,  nearly  dead,  with  the  point  of  his  sword  thrust  into 
the  brain  over  his  eve:  there  was  little  doubt  among  thoso 


(J 

c 


\r 


eonvcrsant  wit 
it  occurred  ace 

The  combiiK 
m;irclied  to  the 
which  had  been 
out  the  war,  wa 
wiTe  di.scoverec 
That  the  nifin 
direction,  was 
ahandoned  villa 
;t  jiortion  of  thd 
liad  a  .sharp  en 
of  the  swamp 
the  fugitives  to  : 
to  follow  them,  i 

Another  batt 
Seminoles  di.spla 
nf  the  regular  tr 
1)1  Tore  been  obse: 
sive  inora.ss  to  v 
inoinitable  than  1 
savages  thernseh 

Provisions  bei 
sihlo  to  procure 
jiroceeded  to  ^'ol 
Lake.     There  it 
In'on  appointed 
four  hundred  mo 


1   '! 


FLORIDA  INDIANS. 


139 


toiiversant  with  the  circumstances  of  Lis  death,  but  that 
it  occurrctl  accidentally. 

The  combined  army,  of  more  than  two  thousand  men, 
miirclied  to  the  Ouithlacoochee  in  November.  ^J'his  region, 
whic'li  li:id  been  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Seminoles  through- 
out the  war,  was  now  f(nuul  entirely  al)and()ned,  and  trails 
were  discovered  trending  towards  the  great  Wahoo  Swamp. 
That  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  iiad  moved  in  tliat 
(liredion,  was  also  afTirmed  by  an  old  negro,  found  at  an 
ahaiidoned  village  on  the  river.  Taking  up  the  pursuit, 
;i  ]Mirti(jM  of  the  American  forces  followed  the  trail,  and 
liad  a  sharp  engagement  with  the  Indians  on  the  border 
iif  the  swamp.  There  was,  however,  abundant  space  for 
the  fugitives  to  retreat  into,  where  the  whites  were  unable 
to  follow  them,  and  no  heavy  loss  occurred  on  either  side. 

Another  battle  took  place  on  the  21st,  in  which  the 
Seiiiiuoles  displayed  more  resolution,  and  stood  the  charge 
of  the  regular  troops  with  greater  firmness,  than  had  ever 
Ixfore  been  observed  in  them.  The  dangers  of  the  exten- 
sive morass  to  which  they  retreated  proved  more  insur- 
iiUMuitable  than  those  attendant  upon  the  contest  with  the 
savages  themselves. 

Provisions  being  nearly  exhausted,  and  it  being  impos- 
sihle  to  procure  supplies  in  such  a  wilderness,  the  army 
proceeded  to  A'olusia,  between  Lake  George  and  Dexter's 
Lake.  There  it  was  joined  by  General  Jessup,  who  had 
Ih'Ou  appointed  to  the  chief  command  in  Florida,  with 
four  hundred  mounted  volunteers  fi'ora  Alabama. 


ll  ! 


V  ^\ 


li!-.l|i  :' 


$1 


;;l„' 


'     7 

'  nil 

i» 

t 

[ 

i 

It 

ifP 

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iA 

I  i  t 


w 


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tlil: 


i:  ■;'! 


:y 


f 


m 


140  INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


ClIArTKU  VI. 

I'misrJIT     OF     TIIK     SEMINONKS     SOTfTFrWAKI) — R.NroUNTER    ON    TUB 

IIAnilKK  LCSTKK CONFKKKNrK  ANDTItUCK  WITH  TIIK  l.N'DIA.NS 

—  HK.NEWAr-    OF    TIIK    TUKATV    OF    ?AV.\e\s    LANDING — 

m:(;lkct  on  the  i'aut  of  the  Indians  to  comply 
\\  rril  ITS  PROVISIONS — capiukk,  suurenuer, 
AND    TKEA(lli:U(H;^'    SKIZl-'KE    OF    VARIOL'S 
CHIEFS — KKATH    OF  OSt'EOLA COLO- 
NEL   TAVLOr's    CA.Ml'AKJN. 

AVk  luive  alrcfidv  given  more  space  to  the  details  of  the 
Florida  eani})aigii,  than  such  ill-advised,  ill-conducted,  uiui 
trivial  operations  deserve,  We  would  be  the  last  to  en- 
deavor to  detract  from  the  deserved  laurels  of  many  of 
the  brave  men  who  were  engaged  in  them,  while  we  can 
but  lament  that  their  lives  should  have  been  sacrificcil; 
less  by  the  weapons  of  the  savages  than  by  the  disea.so.s 
of  the  country;  that  the  public  money  should  have  bci'ii 
squandered;  and  the  whole  peninsula  so  long  kept  in  a 
state  of  agitation  and  suspense,  Avhen  pacific  measuivs 
might  hove  ke|)t  matters  comparatively  at  rest. 

Before  the  first  of  January,  General  Jessup,  marcliiii;.' 
with  his  troops  from  Volusia,  with  the  cdo])eration  of  Col()iu'l 
Foster,  dispatched  from  Tampa,  ranged  the  whole  couiitrv 
on  the  Ouithlacoochee  and  other  haunts  of  the  Seminolc>, 
and  examined  the  deep  recesses  of  the  Wahoo  morass, 
without  finding  an  enemy.  The  Indian  trails  which  were 
observed,  all  led  to  the  unexjilorcd  wilderness  of  the  south. 
Thither  he  started  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  Seminolcs, 
on  the  22d  of  January  (ISoT).  On  the  succeeding  day,  a 
detachment,  under  Colomd  Cawfield,  surprised  Osuchee  or 
Cooper,  a  Seminole  chief,  then  encamped  at  Ahapopka 
Lake,  from  which  flows  the  Oeklawaha.     The  chief  ai:(l 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


Ill 


several  (^f  liis  warriors  were  killed,  and  a  nuiiiber  of  i)ri.s- 
oners  were  taken. 

The  main  ariMj,  still  following  the  course  of  the  Indian 
track,  now  came  to  the  high  ridge  of  sandy  hills  lying 
directly  s(juth  of  Lake  Ahapopka.  The  second  day  after 
passing  these  hills,  cattle  of  the  Indians  were  seen,  and 
shortly  after  a  scouting  J'arty,  under  Colonel  Henderson, 
discovered  the  enemy  U]ion  the  borders  of  the  stream  of 
llatchei;  Lustee.  The  troojts  instantly  charged,  and  drove 
tlicia  into  the  swamp,  taking  twenty  or  thirty  j)risonei's, 
mostly  women  and  children. 

On  the  same  day  another  large  body  of  Indians  was 
discovered  a  little  farther  to  the  westward,  who  lied  ])re- 
i'i]iitately  U[)on  the  ajiproaeh  of  troops.  One  of  the  Semi- 
mtlcs  was  found  watching  by  his  siek  wife,  who  had  been 
!i'ft  as  unable  to  travel.  '^^I'his  Indian  was  sent  the  next 
morning  (January  28th)  to  invite  the  Seminole  chiefs  to 
a  conference.  The  army  was  marched  to  the  border  of 
Toliop(>kaliga  Lake,  (into  which  empties  the  Ilatchee  Lns- 
tco  Creek,)  and  encamjied  between  its  waters  and  the  ])ig 
Cypres.^  swamp,  to  await  the  return  of  the  messenger.  He 
made  his  appearance  on  the  following  day,  bringing  intel- 
ligence from  the  hostile  chiefs,  who  agreed  to  have  a  i)ar- 
Icy.  The  first  who  present(>d  himself,  on  the  part  of  the 
Seminoles,  was  Abraham,  Mieanopy's  negro  counsellor. 
Having  held  a  consultation  with  General  Jessup,  he  re- 
turned to  his  people;  but  three  days  after,  February  3d, 
escorted  Jumper,  Alligator,  and  two  other  chiefs  to  the 
cainp.  It  was  concluded  that  a  grand  talk  should  be  held, 
ami  a  new  treaty  entered  into  on  the  ISth  of  the  month, 
at  Fort  Dade,  on  the  Big  Ouithlacoochee.  To  that  estab- 
lishment the  army  immeihately  repaired,  as  it  was  agreed 
that  hostilities  should  be  suspended  until  after  the  council. 

On  the  8th  of  the  month,  several  hundred  Indians,  led 
by  Philip,  the  chief  who  had  long  been  the  terror  of  the 


'-'      .; 


J     ' 


j  '  i. 

M.I     ! 


If 


( ?'li 


I,  l"i 

I'':  I 


M  ;}i: 


Ml. 

iil 


I'i 


V  \t 


1  f  I  ji. '. 


ti  i:  • 


— "^ 


142 


INDIAN   UACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


eastern  portion  oftlic;  pcninsul:!,  uttackcMl  Colonel  Faiininn^ 
then  ill  the  ()et'ii)i;iti(;ii  of  a  station  on  Lukv,  Monroe,  with 
a  iiiixfd  n-'irrison  of  regulars,  v(jlunteers  and  Creeks,  'i'lie 
Creek  eliief  I'addy  Carr  was  of  the  company.  'I'ho  ass;iil- 
ants  were  driven  off  with  loss,  and,  in  their  retreat,  iint 
:i  messenger  sent  by  Micano])y  to  convey  intelligence  nf 
the  truce. 

Some  delays  occurred  in  bringing  about  the  conference 
assigned  for  the  18th,  but  at  last  most  of  tlu  jirincipal 
Seminole  eliiefs  signed  a  treaty  similar  to  that  of  Payin'.^ 
Jianding,  whereby  tliey  agreed  to  remove  west  of  tlir; 
Mississippi.  The  United  St.ttes'  government  was  to  make 
remuneration  for  the  stock  which  must  necessarily  be  left 
behind,  and  to  pay  stipulated  annuities  as  before  agreed. 
'J'liere  can  be  but  little  doubt  that,  even  on  this  occasion, 
the  Indians  had  no  real  intention  of  com])lying  Avith  the 
re(piisitions  o^  government.  Few  came  in  on  the  dav.s 
apj)ointed,  and  rumors  were  circulated  among  them — 
whether  actually  believed,  or  only  used  as  an  excuse  for 
absenting  themselves,  does  not  appear — that  the  Avliitcs 
intended  to  destroy  tiie  whole  tribe  as  soon  as  they  should 
be  secured  on  board  the  government  vessels. 

Osceola  and  Coe  Ilajo,  still  pretending  that  their  endeavor 
was  to  collect  their  ])eoplc  for  transportation,  held  a  great 
festival  or  game  at  ball  near  Fort  Ardlon,  upon  Lake  ^h;n• 
roe,  at  the  eastern  part  of  the  peninsula.  Iliey  doubtless 
chose  this  place  for  gathering  their  followers,  as  being  at 
a  safe  distance  from  the  point  of  embarkation  on  Tampa 
Ba3^  On  the  2d  of  June,  Osceola  took  two  hundred  of 
his  warriors  to  Tampa  Bay,  and,  either  by  force  or  persaia- 
sion,  induced  the  old  king  Micano])y,  and  all  the  other 
Indians  who  had  rendezvoused  there  in  ])ursuance  of  the 
treaty,  to  move  off  again  to  the  wilderness. 

Hearing  of  this,  the  commandant  at  Fort  Mellon, 
Colonel  Harney,  made  up  his  mhid  to  entrap  such  of 


r 


FLORIDA    INDIANS. 


143 


llio  cliiof;^  as  were  in  liis  \iciiiity,  under  pn'toiico  ;»f  a 
coiilVivnce ;  mid  retaliate  iiikui  tlu;  Semiiio'es  tnr  tlieir 
lnvneli  of  laitli  at  Tampa,  liy  sei/in,<^  those  wlio  sliouM 
;i]i|ieur.  Osceola  j^ot  wind  of  the  desi^ni,  and  it  conse- 
([urutly  proved  futile. 

I'ort  Mellon  and  \^)lusia  wer(>  abandoned  during  this 
iiioiith;  the  sickness  attendant  uj)oii  the  season  having 
coiiui  enced  its  ravages  among  the  troops;  and  the  liulians 
\\\']v.  left  free  to  roam  over  that  whole  portion  of  the  conn- 
trv,  while  the  settlei's  -whose  dwellings  were  exj)()sed  to 
tlioir  assaults,  were  forced  to  (ly  to  places  of  protection. 

The  last  of  the  month,  Cai)tain  Walton,  Iccejier  of  the 
floating  light  on  Carysford  reef,  was  killed,  together  with 
diie  of  his  assistants,  at  Key  J.argos,  the  n\ost  '^•onsidei-- 
aiile  of  till!  Florichi  Keys.  lie  liad  a  garden  at  this 
island,  and  had  just  landed,  coming  from  the  light,  when 
lie  and  his  J^arty  wei'c  tired  u])()n.  'i'he  whole  south- 
eastern sea-coast  was  then  in  undisturbed  ])ossessiou  of 
tli(>  hostile  Indians, 

111  Septemljcr,  (Jeneral  I  Fernaiidez,  stationed  at  l^'ort  Pey- 
t(»ii,  a  lew  miles  from  St.  Augustine,  nia<le  an  expedition 
to  tlie  southward,  and  eaptui'cd  tlu^  dreaded  J'hilip,  Tehee 
Hilly,  and  nearly  one  hundi'cd  other  Indians  and  negroes. 
Philip's  son  coming  with  a  (lag  of  truce  to  St.  Augustine, 
^vas  taken  ])risoner,  and  retained  in  ca])tivity. 

('llier  chiefs  and  warriors — among  thein  Tustenugge — 
delivered  themselves  up  at  Black  Creek,  an<l  several  cap- 
tures were  made  at  other  points;  but  the  most  imjioi-taiit 
transaction  of  this  autumn — whether  justifiable  or  not — 
was  the  seizure  of  Osceola,  Alligator,  and  six  other  of  the 
leading  Seminolcs.  They  had  come  intt)  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Fort  Peyton,  and  sent  word  to  General  Jcssup 
that  they  desired  a  parley. 

General  Hernandez  was  deputed  to  hold  the  conference, 
but  the  talk  of  the  Indians  being  pronounced  "evasive 


il 


,        4!.    if 


*  I' 


< 


tU>: 


'M 


;l»; 


■■III 


1    ij  ;||Pir  ■  ^' 


i:-! 


11 


INDIAN   UACE3  OF  AMKKH'A. 


and  luisatisfactory,"  the  comm.'indcr-iii-cliief  tllspatdicd  a 
Unrx)  to  ('ii|itun;  tlic  whole  hody;  tlicso  chiefs  iieconhn^flv, 
with  ()V(T  sixty  followers,  fell  into  the  liatids  of  their  eiio- 
lilies.  The  exeiise  given  for  this  act  was  that  the  treaeherv 
of  till!  Indians  upon  former  oeiiasions  had  depi'ived  them 
of  all  elaiiiis  to  good  liiith  on  the  part  of  the  whites. 
Oseeola  was  removed  to  Charleston,  and  died  in  confine- 
iiieiit  on  tlie  130th  of  January,  l!S38.  If  he  had  survived, 
he  was  to  have  been  taken,  with  other  Seminoles,  to  tho 
west  of  the  Mississij)j)i. 

Ill  the  same  month  various  other  captures  were  tnade, 
until  tli(!  Indians  in  bondage  at  St.  Augustine  numbered 
nearly  one  hundred  and  lifty.  The  United  States  foi'ces, 
consisting  of  ri'gulars,  volunteers,  seamen,  and  Indian  allies, 
distributed  among  the  various  ])osts  in  Florichi  at  this  time, 
arc  set  down  at  little  short  of  nine  thousand  men! 

Sam  Jones,  or  Abiaea,  was,  after  the  capture  of  Osccula, 
one  of  the  most  forward  of  the  Seminole  chiefs.  He  aj)- 
) tears  to  have  been  spokesman  at  a  conference  ludd,  not 
i'ar  fi'om  this  time,  between  liis  tribe  and  deputies  fntiii 
the  (.'reek  nation,  bearing  proposals  and  advice  from  their 
celebrated  chief  John  Itoss. 

We  must  next  ])rocecd  to  the  campaign  of  Colonel  .'vaoli- 
ary  Taylor,  the  hero  of  many  battles,  and  afterwards  the 
distinguished  President  of  the  United  States.  He  left 
Vovt  (lardner,  a  station  sixty  miles  due  east  from  Fort 
lirooke,  on  Tam})a  Bay,  with  some  six  hundred  troops,  to 
follow  the  enemy  into  their  hithh'U  retreats  at  the  south. 
J*ursuing  the  course  (>f  the  Kissimee,  the  army  had  ud- 
%";uieed  within  fifteen  niles  of  the  great  lake  Okeechobee, 
on  the  northern  borders  ot  ^he  unexplored  evci'glades, 
when  intelligence  was  obtained  from  a  prisoner,  that  the 
Seminohis  were  encamped  in  force  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
the  Kissimee  lake.  With  a  jiortion  of  his  army,  C-yionel 
Taylor  crossed  the  river,  and  hastened  to  attack  the  In* 


.^•;l  ,    ^)^ 


From  DA  IXDIAXH. 


115 


(liaiis  ill  the  liatiiiuock  wliun!  tlicy  were  posted.  Xovcr 
before  had  tlie  Tmlian  rifles  doiio  more  deadly  execution, 
unci  never  had  their  warriors  ovineed  more  detenniiied 
Couni.Lje.  They  were,  with  ^'reut  dilliculty,  dislod,L''eil  and 
disi)crsc(l:  the  miinher  of  killed  and  wounded  on  tin-  pari 
of  the  whites  eoiisiderably  exceeded  that  of  the  Indians, 
no  less  than  one  Inindred  and  eleven  of  Col.  Taylor's  men 
boiiig  wounded,  and  twenty-eight  killed. 


CIIAl'TKU  VII. 

VARlnCS    MINOR    KN(i AfiKM KNTS — SI'nUENDKR    OF    LARGE    NT'MItEWS 
OF  INDIANS — CONTINUANCK  OF   DKI'liKDATIONS — UI-OOD-HCUNDS 

F«OM  CUBA ATTACK  UPON  A  COMPANY  OF  ACTORS — SK.MINOLE 

CHIKFS  BROUr.HT  HACK   l-ltOM  THE  WF.ST  TO  REPORT  THEIR 

CONDITION  TO  THEIR  COUNTRYMEN — COL.  HARNEY's 

EXPEDITION  TO  THE  EVERGLADES — END  OF  THE 

WAR INDIANS  SHIPPED  WEST — NUMBERS 

STILL  REMAINING  IN   FLORIDA. 

DrRixCr  December  (1837),  several  encounters  of  minor 
iiuportancc  took  place  in  dillereiit  j)arts  of  the  country. 
Many  prisoners  were  taken  in  the  district  between  Fort 
Mellon  and  Lake  Poinsett,  near  the  head  waters  (^f  the 
St.  John's,  and  a  small  skirmish  occurred  as  far  north  ;us 
the  Suwanne.  There  was  a  more  severely-contested  action 
near  Fort  Fanning,  on  this  river,  early  in  January  (18;j.S), 
ill  which  the  whites  met  with  some  loss,  but  succeeded  in 
taking  a  number  of  prisoners. 

On  the  eastern  sea-coast,  not  far  from  Jupiter  Inlet,  a 
company  under  Lieutenant  Powell  was  worsted  in  an  en- 
gagement, and  retreated  with  loss.  The  Indians  had  b(!en 
driven  into  a  swamp  on  Lochahatchee  Creek,  where  they 
10 


n.t. 


•     < 


/n 


m 


'i'i 


9 


$: 


I 


m 


hi: 


I, 


1 

1    ■ 

1 
1 

1 

; 

■V' 

^^  , 

1  'ii 

■^i'i 

i'l! 

ili:«)|^| 


Iff    i.^! 


If!"  ,i^ 


ll 

# 

•  I 


I  I 


— .?( 


146 


INDIAN    IIAC'ES  OF  AMEK'ICA. 


made  a  s])irit('(l  resistance  until  their  pursuers  fuiUid  it 
necessary  to  retreat. 

(Jeneral  Jessuj)  attacked  and  broke  uj)  this  eneanipiiniit 
of  the  Jn(hans,  towards  tlie  end  of  January,  lie  was  iiim- 
self  wounded  in  the  action.  'I'oskegee  was  the  chief  wlm 
commanded  the  Seminoles  in  Loth  tl^oC  battles. 

'Die  (ieneral  was  now  anxious  tociMielude  a  treaty  wiih 
the  Indians,  by  which  they  should  be  allowed  to  lemam 
in  their  own  country,  connning  themselves  to  s})ccili«>l 
districts,  but  the  government  refused  assent  to  a)iy  s'.uli 
])i-()[)Osition.  JIc!  nevertueless  ])roeeeded  to  bring  abmit 
parleys  with  his  savage  oi)ponents,  as  it  was  evident  that 
desultory  hostilities  might  be  indefinitely  protracted, 

^Jlie  Seminoles,  miserably  reduced  by  the  troubled  lile 
they  had  led  so  long,  and  weaiy  of  proiitless  warfare,  hard- 
ship and  (>.\])<)sui'e,  were  induced  U)  surrender  in  larp,> 
nund)crs.  '\'\icy  apparently  expected  to  be  allowed  to 
remain  in  the  country,  as  thev  were  assured  bv  the  ollicrrs 
with  whom  then*  treated,  that  ever}'  endeavor  would  be 
made  to  procure  that  permission  from  the  government. 

When  Lleneral  Jessup  left  Florida,  in  April,  IboS,  leav- 
ing (jcncral  Taylor  in  conunaud,  more  than  tw(;  thousand 
of  the  dangerous  tribe  were  in  the  i)0wer  of  the  wliitt>s, 
Part  of  thesis  had  been  ea[)tured,  but  the  larger  portion 
had  delivei'"d  themselves  up  upon  fair  promises. 

rhili[)  and  .Ium[)er  both  died  on  their  route  to  the 
W'cst,  the  liirmer  (ju  board  the  vessel  in  which  he  was 
embarked,  and  the  latter  at  Xew  Orleans. 

'idle  ho})es  .  ntcrtaincd,  after  these  events,  that  the  war 
was  substantially  at  an  end,  })roved  f'lllacicnis.  ^iurdcw 
were  conunitted  dining  the  siimmer  and  fall,  by  prowling 
parties  of  li;dlans  iu  widely-distant  jtarts  of  the  eountrv. 
On  the  (>eklik()ui  and  Oscilla  rivers  iu  West  l-doi'ida, 
small  esiablishments  sullercd  fi'om  the  dej^redations  of  the 
savages;  and  their  hostile  feeling  was  manifest  whenever 


rr.OUFDA  INDTAXS. 


147 


a  vessel  was  in  distress  upon  tlic  dangerous  eastern  and 
soullicrn  coast. 

'I'liis  desultory  warfare,  marked  by  many  painful  and 
hori'llilc  details  of  ])rivate  suflerlng  and  disaster,  conlinut'il 
until  the  sj)ringof  l<s;]il.  No  eonferenec  could  be  (jbtaiiicil 
with  tlio  leatling  chiefs  ^nd  Indians  were  every  wlicn' 
lurking  in  small  bands  ready  to  iii'c  ujion  the  solitary  trav- 
eller, or  to  rush  at  an  unguarded  hour  upon  an  isolated 
plantation. 

General  Macomb,  Avho  had  command  of  the  army  during 
April  and  May,  succeeded  in  bringing  about  a  parley  witli 
some  of  the  Seminoles,  in  -svliicli  it  was  agreed  that  the 
tribe  should  stay  peaceably  in  Florida  until  intelligence 
could  be  brought  of  the  safe  arrival  and  prosperous  con- 
dition of  the  captives  already  shipped  westward.  The 
Tallahassee  chief  Tigertail,  and  Abiaca,  having  had  Ui) 
concern  with  this  treaty,  refused  to  abide  by  it,  and  bloody 
skirmislies  and  assassinations  continued  to  be  heard  from 
on  every  side.  * 

The  government  of  Florida  now  ollered  a  bounty  of 
two  hundred  dollars  for  each  Indian  secured  or  killed. 
We  cannot  even  enumerate  one  half  the  petty  engage- 
ments and  sanguinary  transactions  of  the  ensuing  wintt'r 
and  si)rinL'".  In  March,  1840,  bloodhounds  were  brouLdit 
iii1<o  Florida  from  Cuba,  to  aid  in  tracking  and  ferreting 
out  the  savages  from  their  lurking  places.  General  Tay- 
lor had  been  authorized,  during  the  preceding  autumn,  to 
lUMcure  this  novel  addition  to  the  efilcient  force  of  th(.' 
;inny,  and  natives  of  the  island  were  also  secured  to  train 
!iu(l  manage  the  dogs.  There  was  a  great  outcry  raiseil, 
:iiid  perhaps  justly,  at  this  barbarous  plan  of  warfare,  but 
little  seems  to  have  resulted  from  the  oi)eration  except  the 
fuiiii.shing  a  valuable  breed  of  the  animal  for  future  do- 
mestic use,  and  the  supplying  of  excellent  subject  matter  for 
tlie  eai'icaturi^ts,  w  h;j  made  the  war  a  theme  for  ridicule. 


i\ 


■  tie 


f  ^r^ 


m^^/, 


\fiik.. 


•1 

<ifiji>fnpitt_ 

u. 

M£K 

1 

Wll 

K 

mwi  iijijiin 

?n 

{ 

• 

, 

. 

1    . 

,1^ 

'  t 

■'^ 

],■'               : 

J 

■''  '^^  i 

,1 ! 

\i'm'\ 

■'i(  1 

^[         ^ 

1: 

■ 

hi  ...^'^ 

i 

ill   '■ 
■■ . 

, ) 


1 

t 

i.ii 

f.; 

!  " 

! 

•11 
''''    t 

118 


INDIAN'  14ACES  OF  AMP:i:iCA. 


Before  the  1st  of  June,  many  more  families  were  ma.^- 
?aored,  id  several  bloody  engagements  occurred  betvveea 
compaiutively  small  companies  of  whites  and  Indians. 
Near  the  close  of  May,  !i  ludicrous  though  tragical  inci- 
di-nt  took  place  on  the  road  between  Ticolata  and  St. 
Augustine. 

A  company  of  play-actors,  en  route,  for  the  latter  town, 
were  set  upon  by  the  noted  chief  Wild  Cat,  Avith  a  large 
body  of  Indians.  Four  were  killed,  and  the  "property" 
of  tlie  establishment  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savages. 
Nothing  could  have  delighted  them  more  than  an  acquisi- 
tion so  congenial  to  their  tastes.  The  tawdry  red  velvet, 
spangles,  and  sa.shcs,  which  everywhere  obtain  as  the  ap- 
}tropriate  costume  of  tlie  stage,  were  now  put  to  a  new- 
use,  and  served  as  royal  apj)endages  to  tlie  dusky  forms  oi' 
the  Seminole  warriors.  Decked  in  this  finery,  they  rnadf 
their  exultant  appearance  before  Fort  Searle,  challengini; 
the  little  garrison  to  an  engagement. 

'Tha  month  of  Augcftt  wa.s  marked  by  scenes  of  terrible 
interest.  On  the  Suwanne,  eleven  families  were  driven 
from  their  homes,  and  many  of  their  members  murdered: 
the  settlement  on  Indian  Key  was  almost  totally  destroye<l. 
six  persons  being  massacred.  Nothing  was  accomplislietl 
in  anyway  tending  to  bring  the  war  to  an  end,  or  to  miti- 
gate its  horrors,  until  autumn. 

It  was  resolved,  at  last,  to  try  fair  measures,  since  foul 
proved  of  so  little  avail,  and  a  number  of  the  princi{>al 
Scminoles  who  had  cx})erienced  the  realities  of  a  western 
life,  among  whom  were  old  Micanopy  and  Alligator,  were 
brought  back  to  Florida,  for  the  purpose  of  pointing  out 
to  their  brethren  the  advantages  of  their  new  homes,  and 
inducing  peaceable  com})liancG  with  the  intended  removal. 
A  meeting  was  obtained  at  Fort  King,  early  in  November, 
with  ^i'igertail  arid  other  Seminole  chiefs,  but  after  a  few- 
days  of  ])roritk\ss  parley,  the  whole  of  the  hostile  party 


FLORIDA  INDIAN'S. 


li.) 


disa}>pc;irctl,  and  witli  llicin  all  prospect  of  an  aniioablo 
settlement  of  dinieultics. 

The  Indians  eontinued  tlieir  depn^'dations,  murdering 
and  jiliindei'ing  with  greater  Ix^ldness  than  ever.  In  Hc- 
oeiuber,  Colonel  Ilarney  attacked  the  enemy  in  (piarters, 
which  tli'-y  had  till  then  occupied  in  undisturbed  security, 
vi/.:  the  islands  and  dry  sjxjts  of  tliat  waste  of  "grass- 
water,"  as  the  natives  term  it,  the  I'iVeiglades.  lie  had 
ol)tained  a  negro  guide,  who  knew  of  the  haunts  of  the 
cliief  Chaikika  and  his  people,  and,  takuig  a  eonsideraljle 
company  in  boats,  he  jM'oceeded  to  beat  u])  his  quailers. 
The  pi^rty  came  upon  the  Indians  most  unex})eeted]y : 
Cluiikika  was  shot  by  a  private  after  he  had  thnnvn  d(n\  n 
his  arms,  and  his  men,  with  their  families,  were  surrounded 
and  taken  before  they  had  time  to  escape.  Nine  of  the 
iiicii  wei'e  hanged!  on  the  ground  that  the}'  were  concerned 
ia  tlie  Indian  Fey  massacre;  some  of  the  property  jjlun- 
Jered  on  that  occasion  being  found  in  the  eamj). 

The  only  other  important  event  of  the  nionth  was  tin,* 
surrender  of  a  son  and  a  brother  of  the  old  and  imj)laea- 
hle  cliieftain  Tigertail.  They  delivered  themselves  uj)  at 
Fort  King.  In  ^liddle  Fhu'ida,  ti'avelling  continued  as 
unsafe  as  ever,  unless  in  well-armed  companies,  of  force 
sulTicient  to  keep  the  lurking  savages  in  awe. 

We  have  now  ehronieled  the  {)rineipal  events  of  this 
tedious,  harassing,  and  most  expensive  wir.  Hostilities 
did  not,  indeed,  cease  at  the  period  under  our  })rese'nt 
consideration,  but  a  knowledge  of  the  true  jH/iicy  to  be 
pursued  towards  these  ignorant  and  truly  unfortunate 
savages  began  to  be  generally  dilfused,  and  more  concili- 
atory measures  were  adopted. 

John  C.  Spencer,  Secretary  of  War,  in  November,  ls-p_>, 
reported  that,  during  the  current  year,  four  hundred  and 
fifty  Indians  had  been  sent  west  of  the  Mississippi  from 
ITerida,  rnd  that  two  hundred  more  were  supposed  to  have 


.11 


I) 


ilMl^ 


ii    " 


iiJiif 


fir 


III 


\i 


150 


INDIAN    liACKri  01'  AMKUICA. 


Kui'iciiderLMl.  This  n-jxtrt  ])rooe('(ls:  ''The  immlicr  of 
troops  hits  Ix'i.'ii  ^^railiially  (liiniuishcd,  leuviii^^aii  ;ule({Uato 
number  to  })i'ol('c;t  the  inhabitants  from  the  niist'i'ahltj 
renniaiits  ol' tribes,  still  nuiiainiug.  We  luive  advices  that 
arran<j,(.'ineiits  have  been  made  with  all  but  a  very  lew  wf 
t'lose  Indians  I'or  their  removal  we.>t  ol'  the  Mississippi,  or 
to  the  disti'iet  in  the  southern  part  ol'the  peninsula  ussigneil 
them  Ibr  tln-ir  habitation;  and  it  is  believed  that,  by  this 
tinu',  all  the  bands  noilh  of  that  district,  liavc  agreeil  to 
cease  luxstilities  and  remove  there.  Two  or  three  in.^laii- 
ces  of  outi'ages  have  occurred  since  the  ordeivs  were  i.-s'.Kil 
lor  the  termination  of  hostilities,  but  they  are  ascertained 
to  have  been  committed  by  bands  who  were  ignoi'ant  of 
the  measures  ado})ted,  or  of  tlic  terms  olfered." 

Some  dilliculty  arose  from  the  exti'eme  dislike  which 
the  Seminoles  who  wei'c  moved  westward  entertained  of 
being  located  upon  the  same  district,  with  the  Creeks,  and 
a  deputation  from  their  body  of  a  number  of  warriois 
including  Alligator  and  Wild  Cat,  repaired  to  the  seat  (A 
government  for  redress.  Mcasui'es  were  taken  to  satisly 
them. 

The  Indians  who  still  keep  possession  of  a  district  in 
Southern  Florida,  consisting  of  Seminoles,  Mieasaukies, 
Creeks,  L'chces  and  Choetaws,  are  variously  estimated  as 
numbering  from  three  hundred  and  lifty  to  live  hundre*!, 
including  women  and  children.  Seventy-six  were  shi})ped 
to  the  west  in  iboO. 

An  a  tribe,  they  have  long  been  at  peace  with  their  white 
neighbors,  although  some  individuals  of  these  peo])lc 
have,  and  at  no  distant  date,  given  proof  that  the  spirit  of 
the  savage  is  not  yet  totally  extinct. 


ZiLi 


t\\i 


THE   INDIANS  OF  viuciNlA, 


CHAl'TKU  I. 

EXl'lilJlTION  Of  AMIDAS  AM)  HAIU,()\V oK  Sill   KUHAHI)  GKK.NVU.LH 

— OK   HAKTIIOI.OMKW  GOSNOIJ,,  WITH   CArTAl.N    .SMITH S|;TTI,J:- 

JIKNT  AT  JA.AIKSTOWN VISIT  TO  I'oWHAi  A.N l.MrKOViUK.MK 

A.NO  l)llT'!LT-I/iTi;.S   01-'  TllK    COl.O.MSTS KXl'l.OKATIO.N   OF 

THK  CTIUKAIIO.MI.W S.MITH   TAKK.V    rillSONER jllS 

TKEAT.ME.NT  liV  THK  LNUIANS. 

"He  lived,  the  imiKTsonatioii  nf  ;m  age 
Tliat  iu"\T  sli.ill  return.     His  .soul  of  tire 
\\';is  kiii.;led  by  tlie  breatli  of  llic;  rude  times 
lie  lived  in." — BliYANT. 

The  most  complete  nnd  vcraciofi.s  account  of  the  man- 
ner.-^, a})peuniiicc,  and  hi.stoiy  of  tlie  altoriginal  inlui])itanta 
of  A'irginia,  particularly  those  who  dwelt  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  that  district,  u})(jn  the  rivers  and  the  shores  of 
Chesapeake  I'ay,  is  contained  in  tiie  narrative  of  the  re- 
doubted Captain  John  Smitiu  This  bold  and  energetic 
pioneer,  aftermany  "strange  ad  venture;;,  happ'd  by  land  or 
sea;"  still  a  young  man,  though  a  veteran  in  military  ser- 
vice; and  inured  to  danger  and  hardship,  in  Ijattle  and 
captivity  among  the  Turk.<,  joined  his  fortunes  to  those  of 
l);iitho]()me\v  Gosnoll  and  his  I'arty,  who  sailed  from  Kng- 
laiid  on  the  I'Jth  of  December,  KKH),  (0.  S.)  to  form  a 
a'ttleiiieiit  on  the  Western  Continent. 

Torinor  atti'mpts  to  establish  colonics  in  A'irginia  had 
terminated  disiistrously,  fi'om  tlie  gross  ineom})eteuee,  ex- 


i; 


w 

liil  1  ' 

jjv-j 

IIJ 

(Vj 

J 1 

h 

1^1 

:lft 


'      (ll 


' 

t 

1 

m': 

M^ 


ii  ■■  ''  Us 


^^'i^' 


?      »■ 


i 


1' 


:|1 


1   ■    ■! 


1 

II 

ri 


)  '.ii< 


«i  I 


il 


e 
t 


'^    i      I: 


kll 


IT'') 


IM)[A.V    HACKS   OF  A.Ml.UUJA. 


n 


t,r;ivnp^;iTit  expectations 


tiiprovidciiee,  uii 


■1  vill; 


mous  con- 


lis  associates,  under 


•liict  of  those  en ;_','! L'Cfl  in  tlicii 

III  loSI,  Sir  Wnlt.T  Kah'idi  an-l  ] 
a,  [latcnL  iroiu  (^uccii  I-ili/nltclli,  Imd  sent  out  two  Hni;i'l 
vessels,  coninianded  1,\-  Atnidas  and  P>ar](MV.  Wy  the  eir- 
enitous  lonte  tlieii  usually  adojited,  tin;  exploring'  jiaiiv 
])assed  the  West  Indies,  coasted  alonL^  tlu;  f'ra^^rant  slioi,  , 
of  i'lnrifla,  and  entcreil  Oi^rakoke  Inlet  in  tl 
dul 


h;   niontl;  n 


V,  < 


nraptinvil  willi  the  rich  and  fiaiitful  .<ppcai-aiice  i.i' 
the  couiiti'V.  firap(,'S  ^(rew  to  the;  very  honLrs  of  the  .-e;i. 
overspreadinL-;  the  l)ushes  and  clind/ni;.';  io  the.  tops  of  tn    > 


\n  luxurious  a 


bundi 


mce 


Their   intercourse    with    IIk^    natives   was   friendiy  a!:'! 


)caci 


•ful: 


as  iiM 


tl: 


■y  reported,  "a  nion;  kind,  loving'  j 


H'nli:.' 


coidd  not  he."  They  carriecl  on  tnahj  and  huru-r  v.  i 
(iraiiLCtninieo,  hrother  to  \\'in,Lrinia,  kin<^f  ol'  the  eounti 
1  wer(;  royally  entertained  by  his  wile  at  the  island 


a:i< 


lu)anok'e 


(.1 


w 

tl 


in'-'andacoa  was  the  Indian  name  of  tl 


\ii  eountrv.  uw 


on  tne  rcMui'ii  oi  tin 


r  th 


it  was  (;a 
Sir  1! 


11-d  V 


expedition,  in  tla;    ,isiiin<r  Se|)tenil» 
r  th 


irLnnia,  ifi  lauior  ol   tlie  (iiieen 


tichard  (Irenville,  an  associate  ol"  iialei.Lih,  visitei 
A''ir;.'-inia  tin;  next  y(  ar  (lo^^o),  and  left  over  one  hiuid.v  ! 
men  to  form  a  settlement  at  Hoaiioke.  lieiiifr  disappoiinc'l 
in  their  anticipations  of  jirofit,  or  unwilling-  to  endure  ti.c 
privations  attendant  upon  tin;  settlement  of  a  hahitatl'iu 


in    the   wild 


erne 


11    retnrned  witl 


im  a  year, 


A 


ni<i.-t 


c,njusli(ial)Ie  onti-a;.ic  was  eomnuiieij  hv  the  I'hi'dlsh  of  tl 


iiai't\\    on    one   a 


tl 


leir  exploriii,L(    expe(htions 


In   ti 


w 


ords  of  ih.e  old   narrative,  "At  A(iU; 


iscoijoe 


nui; 


stole  a  silver  (MM)    wherefore!  W(! />///•///  l/ir  7 


ijii'it 


th 


II I r  earn  . 


so  returned  to  our  fleet    at  Tocol 


th<-  1 


(ind  spoil' 


•con. 


Tl 


MS  a'' 


is  hut  a  fair  specimen  of  the  manner  in  wliieh  redivss  lia.s 
been  soii,!_dit  for  injuries  sn.-tained  at  the  hands  of  the-  nativr-', 
not  only  in  eai'ly  limes,  but  too  (^fleii  at  the  present  day. 


lit 


I 


c.-* 


/•  /•./  i.y  ■!<> 


//.V     >  .W  I   I    II- 


' 

ii  ^   If 

\ 

i      !<               1'// 

\ 

i 

i 

i 

1.        ■!■ 

^  ■ 'fV       1 

i 

'(■ 
j 

1                         i                         ■             ' 

i 

':             ,     I 

i 

if 


i!i 


m 


If 


I 


It  is  not  sii 

I  liave  .'issumcd 

and  WiiigiiiKi 

I  pall,  fdi'mcd  a 

;  his  (loininioiis 

iiiisliiiig;  and, 

'  (IS  Dnike  ;ipj 

(■Imlcd  tf)  ri'tu 

Ml'.  Tlioina; 

S''itloiiiciit  is  j) 

stitioiis,  custoi 

;iiii<tii,ii"  tlio  sii 

were  used  for 

savaires  sonic 

cliidos  liis  nai 

of  tlie  comj)aii 

SHiiic  (if  the  |) 

I 'III'  part,  nn^tz'lit! 

'iri'iivillo,  ii 

the  (Icsri'tioii  ( 

Aiiici'ica,  well : 

wlioiii  he  had 

[ilace  abandon 

returned  home 

viihii^-e  was  au:; 

the  jdantations 

man  wei'c  ^wn. 

of  the  coh:)ny. 

tions  of  tlie  sa- 

cogoc  and  otln 

t!ie  wliites,  and 

Tli(>  experin 

again  failed:  o: 

females,  who  h 

went  in  seareli 


H  4 


I 


IXDIAXS    OF  VlU<;iNIA. 


1»  II 
OO 


It  is  not  siirjii-isiii;^  tliat  tlKTcafU'r  tlio  Tiidians  slioiiltl 
liave  assumed  a  hostile  attitude,  (irangauiinctj  was  dead, 
and  Wiuginia,  who  had  now  taken  tlie  name  ol'  Piimssa- 
|iaii,  liii-nied  u  plan  to  eut  oil"  these  disorderly  invadcis  <>[' 
his  (liiniinions.  ^riiis  resulted  oiilv  in  some  desnltoi'v  skii'- 
iiiishing;  and,  a  i^cw  days  afterwai'tls,  the  fleet  of  Sir  I'Vaii- 
(•!S  Drake  ai)j)earin<5  in  the  oiling,  the  whole  eolony  (.'on- 
(.•jii(l(>(l  to  return  to  Knghmd. 

Mr.  Thomas  Ileriot,  whose  journal  of  this  voyage  ami 
srttlenient  is  preserved,  gives  a  brief  aceount  of  the  super- 
stitions, enstonis,  and  manner  of  living  whieh  he  obserxed 
aiiKiiig  the  savages.     Jn  ciuimcrating  the  animals  whit ' 
were  used  for  food  by  the  Tnrlians,  he  mentions  that  "t'n; 
savages  sometimes  killed  a    lion   and  eat  him"     lie  c  Mi 
eludes  his  nari'ative  by  very  justly  remarking,  that  ..  n  '1 
(if  tlu^  eompany  "showed  themselves  too  furious  in  slaving 
s<Miie  of  the  people  in  some  Towns    upon  causes  t!        •' 
(iiu'inu't  might  have  been  borne  with  more  mildness." 

(irenville,  in  the  following  year,  knowing  nothing  of 
\\\c  desertion  of  the  settlement,  t(K)k  three  ships  over  to 
America,  well  furnished  for  th(>  support  and  I'elief  of  those 
ulioiii  he  had  left  on  the  jireeeding  voyage,  h'indirig  the 
jilaee  abandoned,  he  left  llfty  settlers  to  reot'eupy  it,  and 
returned  home.  On  the  next  ai'i'ival  from  Knghuitl  the 
village  was  again  found  deserted,  the  fort  dismantled,  and 
the  plantations  overgrown  with  weeds.  The  bones  of  one 
man  were  seen,  but  no  other  traee  appeiired  to  tell  the  fiite 
ef  the  eolony.  It  afterwai-ds  ap[>eared,  fi'on^i  the  luirni- 
tions  of  the  savages,  that  three  hundred  men  from  A(juas- 
eeLroc  and  other  Indian  towns  had  made  a  descent  upon 
the  whites,  and  massacred  the  \vhf)lc  number. 

The  e'xperiment  of  colonization  was  again  tried,  and 
again  failed:  of  over  one  hundred  persons,  including  some 
females,  who  landed,  none  were  to  be  found  by  tho.sc  v  ho 
went  in  search  of  them  in  1580,  nor  was  their  fae  e\er 


i';f  I' 


.§. 


m 


,'  '*i?H 


.1  '-^^l^ 


iiii 


i 


i 


,;J 

'A'     IHHH^HhIIii 

1 

( 

1 

1 

irA 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKUK.'A. 


asccrt;iiiic<].  Tt  is  recorded  tliat,  before  the  departure  of 
tlie  slii|is  that  brought  over  tliis  eolony,  on  the  Isth  (,f 
Au.^iist  (().  S.),  llie  iroveriiors  (hm^liter,  Mllinor  Dare,  <siwr 
birth  foaii  iiiCaiit,  which  was  named  Virginia,  and  was  tlio 
lirst  white  eliild  boi-n  in  tlic  conntrv. 

AVe  nonreturn  to(iosiioll  and  his  companions,  niun. 
l)crin,L,'  a  little  over  one  Innnb-ed,  who,  as  we  before  incn. 
tioncil,  visite(l  lh(>  conntry  in  100(1.  'I'hey  saileil  fn,),! 
I'ln.uland  with  sealed  orders,  which  were  not  to  be  opem,} 
nntil  their  arri\;d  in  America.  Landin^M)n  Cai)e  Ilenrv, 
at  the  entrance  of  the  Chesapeake,  the  liosti](!  feelings  uf 
the  Indians  were  soon  made  manifest;  "thirty  of  tlio 
company  recreatim:  tlu-mselves  on  shore  were  assaultc(l 
by  five  Sava.Lfes,  who  hnrt  two  of  the  Kn<,dish  verv  d;iii- 
<i('r.)nsly."  The  l)OX  containing  the  orders  from  the  author- 
iti<'s  in  liPu'land  beinii-  opened.  Smith  was  found  to  be  one 
of  the  nundn.'r  apj)ointed  as  a  council  to  govern  the  eolonv; 
but  he  was,  at  that  time,  in  close  custody,  in  consc([ii(.iic(' 
of  sundry  absurd  aiid  j'ealous  suspicions  which  had  been 
excited  against  him  on  th(>  voyage,  and  he  was  thciTlbiv 
refused  all  share  in  the  direction  of  the  public  aH'airs. 
IV'fore  the  return  of  the  ships,  however,  wdiich  took  j.lace 
in  June,  the  weak  and  ill-assorted  colony  were  glad  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  services  and  counsel  of  the  bo],! 
and  ])crseveri!ig  ca])tain.  His  enemies  were  disgraced, 
and  his  authority  was  formally  acknowledged.  ]\reantiiiie, 
the  settlement  was  commenced  at  Jamestown,  fortv  niili-- 
u])  the  Powhatan,  now  James'  river.  The  Indians  aj)peanil 
lVi(Midly,  and  all  hands  fell  to  work  at  the  innumemhl.j 
oecu])ations  which  their  situation  required.  A  few  luiiis. 
and  the  ])ietures(pie  remains  of  the  old  brick  church-tower 
still  standing,  utterly  deserted  amid  the  gi'owth  of  shrnli. 
and  willows,  are  all  that  remains  of  the  intended  citv. 

Newport  and  Smith,  with  a  com])any  of  twentv  men, 
were  sent  to  e.xploi'e  the  upper  portion  of  the  river,  and 


!.;; 


|M'-;<i 


INMANS   OF  VlK(iINL' 


155 


in;iil<!  tlK'ir  way  to  tlu>  town  of  Powhatan,  situated  ujk.ii 
a  hliiU'just  l)cK>w  tliu  I'alls,  and  ut  tlie  head  of  navigation — ■ 
the  same  spot  afterwards  elioscn  li)r  the  site  of  the  eapitol 
ut'  the  state.  'Die  natives  wv.w  peaecahU;  and  kind  to  the 
ailvriiturers,  receiving  them  with  cNery  demonstration  cf 
iiiti'i'est  and  ])leaHnre,  and  rejoiced  at  the  o|)|K/i'tunity  I'ur 
trallic  in  beads  and  oi'iiaments.  .\s  they  a|)pri»aein'il 
JaiuestoNvn,  on  tlieir  return,  they  perceived  some  hostile 
(It.'iaonstrations;  and  ari'iving  there,  lound  that  seventeen 
men  iiad  been  wounded,  and  that  one  boy  hud  been  killed 
liv  the  Imlians  (bii'ing  their  absence. 

W'iiiL'lield,  the  president  of  the  colony,  had  injudiciously 
iicglcetod  to  make  any  secure  fortilications,  and  the  pci^ple, 
Itiiviiig  their  aims  stored  apart,  set  to  work  without  a 
-Hard;  thus  giving  to  the  lurking  foe  couveuient  opjior- 
tmiity  for  an  assault. 

Alter  Captain  Newport  luid  sailed  for  Kngland,  the 
colonists,  left  to  their  own  resources,  were  reduced  to  great 
.-ii'aits  and  privation,  ^^ost  of  them  were  men  ntterlv 
untitled  for  the  situation  they  had  chosen,  and  unable  to 
endure  labor  and  hai'dship.  Feeding  upon  damaged  wheat, 
with  such  lish  and  crabs  as  they  could  catch;  wt^rn  ijtit  by 
unaecustonicd  toil;  unused  to  the  climate,  and  igiKnaiit  of 
its  diseases;  ii  is  matter  of  btlle  wonder  that  lilty  of  the 
eoiajiany  died  before  the  month  of  October. 

Smith,  to  whom  all  now  looked  for  advice,  and  wlio 
was  virtually  at  the  head  of  all'airs,  undeitook  an  e\{)edi- 
lioii  down  the  river  for  pur])oses  of  trade.  finding 
that  the  natives  "scorned  him  as  a  famisheil  man,"  deri- 
si\ely  ollering  a  nu>rsel  of  food  as  the  })rice  of  his  arms, 
hi,'  adopted  a  very  common  exj)edient  of  the  time,  using 
ioive  where  courtesy  availed  not.  After  a  harmless  ilis- 
eliarge  oi'  muskets,  he  landed  and  marched  up  to  a  village 
where  nuirli  corn  was  store(l.  lie  would  not  allow  his 
nicii  to  plunder,  but  awaited  the  expected  attack  of  tlie 


IMi 


1     ■ 
1  , 

1 

Ti 

1 

't¥ 


W  .' 


I'i 


It 


I  ■ 


.'I 


loO 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKHICA. 


iwitivi'S.  A  |>iiity  of  sixty  or  seventy  prcst'iitly  rippiMrn] 
"'witli  II  iimst  liitleoii.s  iioiso  soiiu;  hhurk,  somk;  I'cd,  snin,. 
white,  SdiiK!  ])iirli-e(»l()fe(l,  lliey  ciiliio  in  ii  s<|U:ire  oilier^ 
siii;'in;'   ;uul    daiieiiej  out  of  tlio  woods,  with   tlidr  ( ilj ,. 


iWliU'h  was  iiii 


I.I. 


Iii:i.|<>     o 


f  sk 


ins   stiill(Ml  with    I 


\\'i< 


ImrilC 


ill!    [tainted  and    hiin^'  with    ehiiitis    and  eii|iji('r,) 
helure  them."      A  dis.'li;  I'gi;  of  pistol-shot  IVoni   the  ^nm.s 


scattered  tlicin,  ami  thev 


lied,  1 


('avmjL!;  their 


Ok 


ee< 


>eili< 


Kill 


'•;i. 


(low  reiidy  to  treat,  their  iniaf^e  was  icstored,  luid  hea.ls, 
copiter  and  iiatehets  weiv  given  \)y  Smith  to  thcii'  lull 
satisfaittion,  in  return  lor  provisions. 

'J'he  imjtrovident  colonists,  by  waste  and  inactivity, 
counteracted  the  ('llorts  of  Smith:  and  ^Ving^leld,  the 
former  president,  with  a  nund)er  (;!'  others,  forme. 1  a  | 
to  seize  tlie  ])innaee  and  return  to  Mnghind.  'i'liis  i 
spiraey  was  not  ehe.-ked  without  some  violence  and  hl.i.iil. 
slied.  As  tli(^  wi'ather  grew  colder  with  the  change  of 
season,  game  became  liit  and  plenty,  and  the  Indians  .ni 
(Miiekahamania  river  were  found  eagiu'  to  trade  their  emu 
for  English  articles  of  use  or  ornament;  so  that  all'aii.s 
began  to  looic  rnoi'e  prosjterons. 

During  the  ensuing  winter,  Smith,  with  a  barire  ai.l 


boat 


s  crew,  un( 


lert( 


)ok  an  exp 


ilorat 


ion  o 


f  tl 


c 

le  sources  e 


the  ( Miiekahamania,  (CUiickahominy,)  which  cm[)ties  int.) 


aiiii'S  I'lvei',  a  tew  mi 


les  ab 


Dve.lamestown. 


Aft- 


er maknr,' 


his  way  f. «r  about  til'ty  miles  up  the  stream,  his  jirogr.'s.-^ 
was  s.)  imjx'dfd  by  fallen  trees  and  the  narrowness  ()f  tli..' 
channel,  that  he  left  the  boat  and  crew  in  a  soi't  of  bay, 
ami  ju'occeded  in  a  canoe,  accompanied  only  by  two  V.wg- 
lishmen,  and  two  Indian  guides.  '^J'he  men  left  in  cliari.' 
of  the  boat,  disregarding  his  orders  to  stay  on  board  till 
ids  return,  were  set  ujion  by  a  great  body  of  the  natives. 
and  one  of  their  munber,  George  Cassen,  wfis  taken  ]>ris- 
OTior.  Having  ompelled  their  caj)tive  to  disclose  the 
intentions  and  position  of  the  captain,  these  savages  pro- 


nil. I,  hecoming 


.::( 


f 


INDIANS  (»r  VIK<;iMA. 


\0i 


cccilril  to  put  liini  to  (Iratli  in  ;i  iiioHt  burhnrous  niuniier, 
tioviiiiji;  liiH  lin>l)S  ut  tliu  joints  with  sliclls,  and  l)iii  iiin^i^ 
thciii  Ik'I'oii'  lii.s  liice.  As  tlicy  dari'il  not  attack  the  ainird 
eoiiipanv  ill  the  boat,  all  hands  tluMi  sot  out  in  hot  puisuit 
ul' Siiiitli,  It'd  hy  <  )[KH'hanc'anough,  king  of  J'aniauukco. 

Coming  upon  the  little  J'arty  among  the  marshes,  far  up 
tlio  liver,  till'}'  shot  the  two  Knglishnu.'n  as  they  wei'e 
sleeping  hy  ^'"^  eaiioe;  and,  to  the  number  of  over  two 
humlred,  surroundetl  the  gallant  captain,  wiio,  aetrompa- 
liied  hy  one  of  his  guides,  was  out  with  his  gun  in  search 
of  yaiue.  Binding  the  Indian  fast  to  his  arm,  with  a  gar- 
tii-,  as  a  ]>roteetion  from  the  shafts  of  the  enemy,  Smith 
laaile  such  go(xl  use  of  his  gun  that  he  killed  three  of  his 
asriaihuits  and  wounded  several  others.  ^J'he  wlu^le  body 
.xtiiod  at  some  distance,  sti'ieken  with  terror  at  the  unwonted 
oxt'culioii  of  his  weapon,  while  he  slowly  retired  towards 
the  eaiioe.  Unfortunately,  attem})ting  to  cross  a  creek 
wilii  a  miry  bottom,  he  stuck  fast,  together  with  b.is  guide, 
iiinl,  heeoming  benumbed  with  c(jld,  Ibr  the  season  was 
unusually  severe,  he  threw  away  his  arms,  and  surren- 
(Lied  himself  prisoner. 

Delighted  with  their  acipiisition,  the  savages  took  him 
to  the  lire,  and  restored  aninuition  to  Ids  limbs  by  warmth 
and  friction.  lie  immediatelv  set  himself  to  conciliate  the 
king,  and  j)rcseuting  him  with  an  ivory  pocket  c(jni})ass, 
pnnx'i'ded  to  explain  lis  use,  together  with  many  other 
•scieiititit!  matters,  greatly  beyond  the  comju'chension  of  tlie 
wild  t-reaturcs  who  gati'ered  around  him  in  eager  and 
astonished  admiration.  i'erha})S  with  a  view  of  trying  his 
C(junige,  they  presently  bound  him  to  a  tree,  and  all  mmle 
ready  to  let  fly  heir  arrows  at  him,  but  were  stayed  by  a 
siijii  tiom  the  chief.  They  then  carried  him  to  (Jrapaks, 
where  he  was  well  fed,  and  treated  with  kindness. 

When  they  reached  the  town,  a  strange  savage  dance 
was  {iei'formcd  around  Ojiechancanough  and  his  captive, 


i 


I 


:'  IP 

\'\Wi' '. 

•  1  i  f 

i^.^ 


.^4  if 


]^m 


'  f 

} 

hI 

IH 

1 

1 

Ui 

fl 


..   ,3  .iii 


«< 


i\ 


.Valif;iiiulitacii 
liiiiuiikn.',  a  s 
vii'W  to  asci'i'l; 

tlir  IarL''t'r  cal' 
ywji  ill   a   L;ri 
liiiii.uled  with 
stulli"!  with  III 

lllCV  IlH't  oil  th 
aliout  thi'  tasst 
iiiLT  roiiinl  alnc 
iiiaiiiii'r  covt-rc' 
ill  his  Iiaiid.'' 
lin\  ami  ciiiniiii 
'ii'vils,"    lllCll 
"Miitohafos"'  1 
iKtviiiL''  (laiict'd 
a  w  iM  soiiLT  to 

The  chief  (•<  >i 
aihl  |iroci'('cIi'(I 

V|iili'||c(>  ol"  p'.-t 

ration  .xtartril   I 
all  i'M\  1'  a  s!i<  ii't 

IIKUV."       'I'hl-   !i| 

ciiciivlctl  thf  I 
liiSlt'inl  ol'  ri  (III. 
.-liriiiliratiop,  \vl 
I  lire*'  (hiNs  V 
I'ai'h  i|av  lifiiiL: 
ii  'jMJarly  ushcn 
'■Ml  I'taiiinl  \\  ill 
I'.'iii,  hrotlu'i-  to 
"I  the  men  woi 
t'ast  were  ^nvoii 
;iik1  (jhiklivii. 


tl 


INDIANS  OF  VIlMilMA.  IT/.) 


N'aiitailijlit.H'iiiiils,  ;iiiil  <  )ii;iwiii;nii('ii1s.  Krtuniili;.;'  to  l';i- 
liiauiikco,  ;i  s  )Ic!iiii  iiicMiitulioii  \v;is  pfi'lonnfd,  willi  ;i 
view  to  ;i>ci'i1;iiii   liis  mil  li'cliii'js  ti'Wiii'ds  tlii'i;i. 

Ilaviiiif  siMtcil  liiiii  iijxiii  ;i  mat  lic|i>ic  a  liif,  in  our  of 
till'  laiyri'  caliiiis,  all  rctin.l,  *'aiiil  pivsinth"  caiin'  j-kip- 
ywj:  ill  ;i  ,L;r<'at  ;ji'i!ii  |illi>\v,  all  paintid  ovcrwitli  cmhI 
iiiiii,L;loil  with  oil;  iiml  iiiaii\  Snakes  and  Wcik-cls  skins 
stulli'd  with  moss,  and  .dl  tlnir  tails  tied  toLictlicr,  so  as 
they  tiM't  on  the  Clown  i>t' his  head  iiiatasscl;  and  loimd 
ahniit  tilt'  tassel    was  a  euioMi't  of  leather.-,  the  skins  lian.r- 


\ni 


round  ahoiit  his  la'ad.  ! 


i.-ieiv     ami  shoulders,  ami   iii  a 


iiiaimci'  covert'i 


his  i: 


tee;  uitli  a  liellish   Voice  and  a,  rattle 


in 


his  hand.''      lie  sprinkli'd   a  eiicle  of  meal   ahoiit    tin 


lin\  ami  comniem-ecl  hi.- 


coii jni-atioii.     Six  more  "sneh  li 


i'\ils,"'    tlicn    cntereil,    Ian1astieall\'    liedanlu'd    with    ii'd 
Mutehatos''   (^.Mustaches)  marked   upon   their  I'aci'S,   and 


avinir  (lanced  ahout  him  for  a  time,  sat 


ill  iwn  aiHi  sal!'' 


■A  wiM  soliu"  to  the  aeeompaiiilneiit  of  their  rattles. 
The  cliiei'  conini'or  next  laid  down  live  kernels  oC  eo in, 


Itlh 


proeecded   to  make  an  extra \';ejant  oration  with  >-\\r]i 
viiileliec  of  "jesture  that    his  vein>  swelled   and    tliC  tier>!ii- 


•atmn  startecl    rroin   hi> 


dv.      ".\t   ti 


ic  ci ineln>i< 'M   ti'.ev 


all  L'ave  a  siiort  'jioan,    and   then    laid  down    thi-i  e  'jr 


ii!;S 


liiuri 


he  ojH-ratloii  wa<  col!  I  111  lied   "  till  the  V  had  t  \\  |i 


cin'irelcd  the  life,  and  w  as  then  \ariei|  (i\-  iisiiil'  sticks 
ilislcad  ol' corn.  All  these  piiioi  inaiiees  had  soliie  m\s{ic 
.^I'-niilicatiop,  which  was  in  part  cxplaimil  to  the  captain. 
Tlii'cc  daws  were  spent  in  these  weari-oiiie  1  lai  1  laritic-', 
iMi'li  day  l>cim.i-  passed  in  liotine',  and  the  niLdits  liei::--  as 
iv-juiarly  ushered  in  with  leasts.  Smilh  was,  al'ler  this, 
'■iiti  rtaincd  w  ith  the  he-t  of  cheer  at  t  he  house  df  (  >j  liteh;;- 


iiii. 


I'lothcr  to  the  kiliL'.       lie  still  olKer\ei|    ihat   iMit  on 


the   men  would   eat  with    him,  luit    the   ri 


■mams  ol   tl 


I'.ist  were  given  him  to  he  distrihutod  ainon^Lf  the  women 
and  chilthiMl. 


I 


.§: 


I 


i^ 


1%  'lr•^  ' 


100 


]NI)1.\N    1:A('KS  of  amkimca. 


lie   was    lioro    slunvii   ii   \kv^  o''  ^■llllJ)()\V(^t'^,    (.•anf' 
];)iv.^<'rvc(l  as  acvA  ayaiiij^t  the  next  {ilaiiting  season. 


ClIAPTKU   II. 

C()i;i;t  hk  i'ouhatan — s.mii  h"s  i'ukski;  s'.\  tiun  my  rfXAin-N  r.\.- 

Sri'i'IJ  KS  l-i;i{  MSIIKD  MY  TM  K  I.N  1)1  A  NS N  KUI'OHT's  A  K  I; '  v  A  i,  - 

SMI  111  s  i;xri:i)rri().Ns  i  r  riuo  cincsAi-iCAKK. 

'1"HK  ^reat  monarch  of  the  country,  INnvhaian,  at  t 
pei'iod,  was  holding  his  court  at  Wennvocoi 
led  bank  of  Voi'k  rivi'r,  and  thither  Sinitl 


I)  IS 


noco,  on  il 


1  was  convc\i 


to  await  the  royal  pleasure.  The  reeei»tion  of  so  inipnit- 
ant  a  captive  was  conducted  with  snitahlc  soleinnitv  ;i;i.l 
pai-ade.  J'owhatan  sat  upon  u  j';.ised  seat  bjfore  ;i  liic,  i  , 
a  hirge  house,  cloihed  with  ;i  I'ohe  of  racocni  skin.-,  t'i- 
tails  hanging  in  ornanieiilal  array.  He  was  an  oM  m,':. 
about  sixty  years  of  age,  of  noble  ligurt-,  and  that  <;.i.;,. 
nianding  j)resence  natural  in  one  born  to  rule  with  uii'li- 
puted  authority  over  all  around  him.  A  young  girl  >-a 
on  each  side  of  the  king,  .-ml  marshalled  around  tl 


U'  ri"i!;i 


I      liCII'l.- 


wero  rtAvs  of  warriors  and  women,  bedecked  witl 
feathers  ami  paint. 

Smith's  entrance  was  haileil  by  a  slu.iit:  the  <piceii  nl 
.\))painatnck  brought  him  water  to  wasii,  a:-',  he  mm.- 
magnificently  entcilained,  as  a  distinguished  guest  of  I'h 
king.  'l'h(!  sti'ang(^  scene  which  ensued,  .so  replet 
I)atl 
Jang 

n 


c  w  nil 


los  aiKl   ]»oetic  interest,  mii 


ua<i"('  <>i  the  ol( 


I  hist 


orian. 


-t    I 


)C.   1 


n 


iveii  in  tlx-  siiiij' 


ivniLT  <'nile(i  Ins  ren.i,'. 


a  liin'j  consultation  was 


])iit    tl 


It!   coiielusioii    Was,    two    L'feat    stone.s    Were   bnoiulit 


beliire   I'owhataii:   then  as   many  a>  eouM,  laid     hand- "U 
him,  di'agged  him  to  them,  and  there. •n  laid  his  head,  aii'i 


m 


mm 

1 

I      if' 

1.       I 

'    i            ' 

i   ill/' 

n 


■ 

■   , 

\J  '1 

1 

SBAii- 

. 

M 

( 

1 

•H  \ '' 

it! 


^ 


i  §' 


^y 


4 


W 


It* 


[  ,  'ill,..i 


voc.uio.vr.'is   irrF.Rrosfjvo   fuk    cjiptai^t  smith. 


li' 


ji  boing  rcfuU'  n-i 
ji  Ci'lioiitas,  the  1, 
could  ])ivvail, 
own    ujinii   liis 
P':'roiir  was  (•(»iir 
ami  her  hells.  1 
wrll  (if  all  occii 
The  worthy  c 
ance  and  state  o 

"Thoy  .s:iy  lie  boi 
Fur  who  cm  pk 


now  held  lonir  ( 

j  accounts  of  the 

,  Smith  responded 

j  age  nionareh,  of 

I  After  two  days  o 

tliaf  ho  should  ] 

I  prelude  to  the  ee 

Powhatan  A\-as  at 

that  should  imjir 

a  large  eabin,  Si 

frightful  noises  i\ 

nently,  Powliatai 

like  hiniself,  in  ] 

He  appointed  twi 

iiieiit,   reipiesting 

!-Iiould  be  sent  b 

favours  received  { 

Ca])tain  Smith, 
of  his  eaj)tors,  fe 
safely  restored  to 

His  absence  lia^ 
8<'usion  were  rife  i 
11 


nj 


INDIANS  OF  VIlUilNIA. 


lOl 


boing  ready  wiOi  tlicir  cliihs  to  l)Oiit  out  iiis  Lraiiif,  Po- 
CiVnonttis,  the  kiii;4's  (Iciircst  (lau,u,iitc'r,  when  no  eiitrcaty 
could  j)i"c'Vad,  }ji>t  Ids  licad  in  Iht  arms,  and  laid  licr 
own  upon  liis  to  suvc  him  from  death:  whereat  the  i'!m- 
|vrour  was  contented  lie  should  live  to  uiake  him  hatchets, 
and  her  bells,  beads  and  copper;  for  they  tluMight  him  as 
woll  of  all  oeen])at!ons  ;us  themselves." 

The  worthy  eaptiun's  lAvn  rhymes  describe  his  a])pear- 
ance  and  state  of  mind  at  this  crisis: 

"Thov  H:iy  lit"  '•ore  a  plt'iis.iiit  sliow,  but  sure  his  lic.nrt  was  saH ; 
For  wlio  t;;m  i)K'a.s;iiit  be  ami  rest,  that  lives  in  tear  and  dread?" 

Entertaining  his  captive  as  a  privileged  guest,  Powliatiin 
now  held  long  considtations  with  him,  giving  wondeiful 
accounts  of  the  vast  western  country  and  its  inhabi'ants. 
Smith  responded  with  details,  ccpudly  amazing  to  the  .sav- 
age nioiuireh,  of  the  power  aiu]  magniticeneo  of  tlu^  Mast. 
After  two  days  of  fricMidly  intercourse,  Smith  was  infornicil 
that  he  should  return  in  safety  to  Jamestown;  but  as  a 
prelude  to  the  eonveyanee  of  this  satisfactory  intelligenee, 
Powhatan  was  at  nnich  j)ains  to  get  up  a  theatrical  scene 
that  should  impress  or  ten-ify  his  pri.-^oner.  Left  alone  in 
a  large  cabin.  Smith's  cars  were  saluted  by  sti-ange  and 
frightful  noises  from  behind  a  mat  partition,  and,  inconti- 
nently, Powhatan,  with  some  hundreds  of  atteiuhints,  all 
like  himself,  in  hideous  di.sgui.ses,  made  his  aj)i)(>aranee. 
He  appointed,  twelve  Indians  to  guide  him  to  the  .settle 
luont,  rei [nesting  that  u  grindstone  and  two  great  gui. 
.diould  be  sent  back,  by  them,  in  return  for  liberty  an 
favours  received  at  his  hands. 

Captain  Smith,  well  knowing  the  capricious  disposi 
of  his  captors,  felt  little  security  or  cjise,  until  he  w;ui 
safely  restored  to  his  com{)anions  at  Jamestown. 

Ills  absence  had  been  severely  felt:  confusion  ami  dis- 
sension were  rife  utnong  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony,  and 
11 


i" 


iff?    •f:tv 


^. 


n 


i  <ti 


I"'   I  ii 


h(  ''i;  ii 


—  -J^ 


162 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEIUCA. 


tlic  strong  ;ii'iii  and  dctci'iniiH'il  will  of  tlie  bold  caj  tain 
were  i'('(|uii'('d  1)  k«"c])  order,  and  iMsti'aiii  tliose  who  were 
again  inclined  lo  ellrct.  an  escape  in  the  pinnace. 

'J'lie  two  irnns  (dcnii-eiil\-ei'i:is),  togfllier  with  a  mill- 
t^tone,  wei'e  lironglit,  out,  ami  iwollfred  to  tlie  gniilcs;  l.iit, 
seeinu;  the  tci'i'ihle  ell'ect  of  a  tli>charge  of  stones  aniniifr 
the  hranches  oCan  i<'e-co\-ered  ti'cc,  the  jioor  savages  wi to 
greatly  terrilieil,  and  thanklnlly  aeccjitfd  divers  toys  in 
j)laco  of  so  weighty  and  dangerous  u  present. 

So  reduced  were  the  settU'rs  at  this  time,  that  all  nnisl 
liavc  j)erished  with  starvation  hut  lor  the  interc(.ui>v 
established  ])y  Smith  between  them  and  the  jteoplc;  i.l' 
]\)what-an.  Mvery  lour  or  live  days,  his  noble  and  gi'in  r- 
ous  little  pi'ot<M'trcss,  Pocahontas  — she  was  tlien  oidy  about 
len  years  of  age — would  make  hei"  appearance,  acconijiu- 
nied  by  atti'udanls  laden  with  j)i'ovisions.  J'art  of  tlics: 
suj)plies  came  as  jir(\'<ents  frcn  the  king  or  liis  daughter; 
foi-  the  rest,  the  price  juiid  in  toys  and  ai'ticles  of  use  w;is 
left  cntii'cly  at  Smith's  discrc'tion,  '*so  had  he  enchantiil 
these  poor    souls,    being  i  icir  prisoner." 

Captains  Newport  and  Nelson  nt>w  arrived  from  I'iii'.'- 
land,  with  two  ships,  laden  with  necessaries  and  articji'-' 
of  trallic.  Ivcjoiccil  at  the  arrival  of  i'riends  and  jM^vi- 
sious,  ihe  colonists  allowtnl  tlu;  sailors  to  hold  what  intn- 
eou  >c  they  pli'as^'il  with  tlie  nalix'cs,  and  the  constMpi.'inv 
was  that  the  mii'kct  was  soon  s])oi!ed  iiy  tin;  irrogulariiy 
of  prices  oll'cred  by  the  Mnglish  for  the  Indian  comnniii;- 
tit.'i.  Smith  had  ])osscssed  Powhatan  and  his  j>eoplc  widi 
e\ti-a\'agaiil  idc.-is  of  the  ]>ower  and  majesty  of  Ncwpur", 
w  hoyc  sjx'cdy  arrisal  he  picdicted,  and  prejnirations  wei" 
})o\v  made  to  give  u  still  moic  li^fciltle  imj>ression.  M<.- 
sengers  wer(>  sent  to  infoi-m  tin;  Indian  moiiaivJi  that  the 
great  captain  of  tlie  seas  had  I'l'aclad  .bnnestown,  and 
would  mak'c  a  visit  of  ir\;\ie  to  his  royal  frii'iid  ai.'l  ^'liy. 
The  pinnace  was  made  ready  for  liii.'-  jrurpose,  and  "a  great 


ccyle  there  w 

;irri\cd  at   W\ 

I    tious,  fearing 

!    Siaitli  tliereib 

'   coinjiany,   and 

cTci'ks  wldeh 

l.rid^a'S  were  f 

:     posed    of   ])ole.'- 

were  entertain 
Smith  therefoi 
acted  as  guides. 
;i,i:aiiist  attack. 

All  their  .--u- 

crived  theolFKM" 

'    tlioin  liospitabl 

;i:iil  dances. 

vet  d ise recti  v  (i 

liis  natural    gil 

n'([Ui'sted  Xewp 

tliat  he  hud   bro 

t'»  give  full  retn 

I'lii't  wisliing  to  ' 

i.iuiiificenee;   Imi 

ti")i,  for  the  cui 

liis  corn     at  sue 

•^p;iiu."     A  few  1 

'•aught  the  eye  of 

;i\arice.     The  \vi 

\'itii  them,  as  bei 

"f  the  skies,  and 

i;i  the  World.     TI 

of  such  strange 

I'^iid  an  inunensc 

tlie  gainer.     Tjio 

royal  monopolv. 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


103 


cdvlo  there  was  to  set  liitn  forwanl."  Wlion  tlioy  liud 
arrived  at  Werowocoinoco,  Newport  was  wary  and  eaii- 
tious,  feariii;^  treachery  vOn  the  part  of  the  savaL-rs,  ami 
Siaith  therefore  volunteered  to  go  forward,  with  a  small 
company,  and  see  that  the  coast  was  clear.  Over  the 
c'rn'i<s  which  in<'andcrcd  thi'ouijh  the  marshy  country, 
Irid^^es  wiMV  foniid,  hiu  of  so  frail  a  structure,  Ixnng  coin- 
jioscd  «'>f  ))olcs  bound  with  hark,  that  some  suspicions 
v.'irc  cntertainc(l  that  thev  nn'Ldit  he  intended  as  traps. 
Smith  therefore  kept  some  (^f  the  chief  Indians,  who 
acted  as  guiih's,  in  the  midst  of  his  com])any,  for  security 
airainst  atiaek. 

All  their  c;us]iicion  proved  groundless:    Powhatan  re- 

ci'ived  the  otrifcrs  with  the  great(>st  distinction,  entertainc(I 

them  hosplta)»ly,  and  celehrated   thiMr  coiiiing  with  feasts 

,   a:id  dances,     'i'he  great  king  "carried  himself  so  proudly 

\ot  discreetly  (in  his  savage  manner)  ;is  made  all  '^.Imire 

his  natural     gifts."      lli    deeline<l   any  petty  tra:lH,   hut 

rr([Ucsted  Newport  to  hring  forwai-d  at  once  all  the  gooils 

that  he  had  hrought  for  trav!".  e.\}U"essing  his  willingness 

\   ti)  give  full  return.     His  desire   vas  complied  with,  New- 

''   port  wishing  to  out<lo  the  king  in  generosity  and  show  of 

iiimiifu.H'nce;  but  the  nvsult  hardly  <'(|ualled  his  e\])ecta- 

>   tien,  for  the  cunning  savag<',  says  the  narrat<M',  "valued 

\   his  corn     at  such  a  rate  that  1  think   it  better  ehea[)     in 

i   Sjiuin."     A  few  blue  beads  in  the  jKXssession  of  Smith  now 

'   raiight  the  eye  of  Powduitan,  ami  aroused  his  cui'iosit\- and 

avarice,     'i'he  wary  captain  pretended  to  be  loth   to  }»art 

\.itii  tlieiu,  as  being  of  a  "mo.st  r"'«'  substance  of  the  eoh)ur 

*it'  the  skies,  and  not  to  be  worn  but  by  the  greatest  kings 

ill  the  world.     This  made  him  half  mad    to  be  the  owner 

of  such  strange  Jewels,"  and,  to  obtain  them,  he  readily 

paid  au  immense  quantity  of  corn,  esteeming  himself  still 

the  gainer.     The  trade  in  blue  beads,  after  this,  became  a 

ruyal  mono[)oly. 


K-. 


% 


.i      !     ilit: 


"if 


i,     •    .       I  1 


■  m 


;i' 


.^ 


r 

t  1 

,   1 

* 

1 

;    _, 

^^ 

I' 

1 

.,.   ^iiC 

i ! 

1  ;  J 11  v 

■  :.|-...iiJ 

.  '  ^^' 

(Hhm    1 

1  i'      ; 

i 

1 
i 

Hi 


t> 


'!|  •H.Mi. 


■I 


16t 


INDIAN    llACK.-^    OF    AMKUICA. 


Tlic  party  rotnrnod  to  Jamestown;  Imt  oiil}  to  ox{)ori' 
cncc  grcjitcr  privation  ami  hardship  than  over. 

The  town  took  fin^  and  much  of  their  provisions,  cloth- 
in,L',  and  othor  moans  of  comfort  was  (h\strovcil.  Tlio 
winter  was  1)ittcrlv  cold,  and  nearlv  the  whole  cdIohv, 
together  with  tlie  erews  of  the  ships,  were  possessed  with 
an  insane  desire  to  search  for  gold,  to  tin;  neglect  ol"  tho 
labors  necessary  to  secure  li(\ilth  and  prosperity.  From 
these  causes  more  than  half  their  number  perished. 

The  Indians,  seeing  their  weakness,  became  insolent  nml 
exacting,  and,  but  for  Smith,  whose  promjjt  and  energetic 
action,  without  actual  bloodshed,  subdued  and  brouL'lit 
them  to  terms,  i]\oy  might  have  comj)letely  overaweil. 
and  perhaps  have  extirpated  the  colony.  Those  wlmni 
tlie  Knglish  took  prisoners  insisted  tliat  the  hostililjis 
were  in  accordance  with  the  orders  of  Powhatan:  hut 
he,  on  the  other  hand,  averred  that  it  was  the  work  nf 
some  of  liis  unruly  subordinates,  '^I'he  conciliatory  mes- 
sage was  brought  by  "liis  dearest  daughter  l^ocahontas," 
wliosc  a[)])earance  ever  had  the  most  potent  influence  with 
the  brave  man  for  whom  slie  felt  such  filial  attaclunenf. 
and  who  was  bound  to  lier  by  every  tie  of  gratitude  and 
affection. 

Upon  the  2d  of  Jtme,  1608,  Captain  Smith,  with  foiir- 
teen  comf)anioihs — one  lialf  "gentlemen,"  the  rest  "sol 
diers" — undertook  liis  celebrated  exploration  of  Chesa- 
peake Bay.    IMieir  conveyance  was  a  large  open  barge. 

They  first  shaped  their  course  for  the  isles  lying  ufl' 
Cape  Charles,  still  known  as  Smith's  Isles,  and  theiioo 
reentered  the  bay.  Pa.ssing  Cape  Charles,  they  saw  "two 
grim  and  stout  savages,"  armed  with  bonedieaded  laneis, 
who  fearlessly  questioned  tliem  as  to  whence  they  came 
and  whitl)er  they  were  bound.  They  were  subjects  of 
the  Werowance  of  Accomack,  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
the  bay;    and,  being   kindly  entreated,   responded  with 


lit! 


INDIANS   OF  VIKGIMA. 


hio 


t>'|iuil  civility,  and  directed  the  Kiiglisli  to  their  kind's 
lie;id-4U:irt('rrf. 

TIk'V  found  tlio  cliiof  to  he  tlu;  "eoineliest,  jirdfter, civil 
savii'^e"  that  they  had  ever  held  eornmiuiioii  with.  He 
gave  a  most  singular  a<!eount  of  a  ]testilence  which  had 
not  long  before  carried  ofV  the  greater  j)ortion  of  his  people. 
Two  children  had  died,  probably  of  some  infectitMis  dis- 
ease, and  "some  extreme  pa.ssi(nis,  or  dreaming  vision.'*, 
jihantasies,  or  afTcction  moved  their  parents  again  to  revisit 
their  dead  carcases,  whose;  benumbed  bodies  reflcetcMl  to 
the  eyes  of  the  beholders  such  delightful  eountenances  as 
tlinu<_fh  they  had  regained  their  vital  si)irits/'  (Ireat 
crowds  gathered  to  see  this  sjieetacle,  nearly  all  of  whom, 
slmrtly  after,  died  of  .some  uidcnown  disca.se. 

Tlie.S(>  Indians  spoke  tlie  Powhatan  dialect,  and  entcr- 
taiiii'd  Smith  with  glowing  desc^riptions  of  the  beauties 
ami  ailvantages  of  the  bay,  to  the  northward.  iVoeecd- 
iiig  on  their  voyage,  the  navigators  entered  the  river  of 
Wiiilicoconioco,  on  the  eastern  shore,  wliere  the  iidiabit- 
aiits  exhibited  great  rage  and  hostility,  but  perceiving  that 
no  harm  was  intended  them,  with  true  savage  caprii'c,  fell 
t)  ilaneing  and  singing,  in  wonder  aiul  merriment  at  the 
imvel  spectacle.  Xo  good  water  was  to  be  obtained  here, 
and  Smith  with  his  crew  nuide  short  tarrying.  Still  coiust- 
iiig  -along  the  etustern  j^ortion  f»f  the  bay,  they  reached  the? 
(-'i.skarawaok,  where  great  troops  of  .savages  followed  them 
along  the  bank,  climbing  into  the  trees,  and  discharging 
tlieir  arrows  with  "the  greatest  passion  they  couhl  ex- 
press of  their  anger."  As  the  party  eoidd  not  by  signs 
give  them  to  understand  that  they  came  )>eace(nlly,  a  dis- 
charge of  })istol-shot  was  directed,  which  j)roduced  the 
usual  effect,  scattering  the  Indians  in  everv  dire(!tion.  On 
landing,  not  a  native  eould  Ih':  found:  the  P^nglish  there- 
fore left  a  few  beads,  bells,  looking-glas.se.s,  and  bits  of 
copper  in  tin;  huts  and  returned  on  board  tiieir  barge. 


r 

U'll 

|8 

''"  !  ■; 

1  yiHi'' 

:| 

If 

I'i 


^im 


':  Tf 


( >; 


■ 


H 

■I  1 


166 


INDIAN    HACKS   OK  AMKUU'A. 


Next 


lonnii'/  tilt'  poor  simiilc  Siiv;i;4«'S,  ilisiiiissin^  a 


li 


ill 


Irur,  ;^;itliri('il  rniiinl  tliciii  to  llic  lillliiltcr,  JiS  il|'|U'iirc(l,  {,{' 
twu  or  lliit't!  tliou>;iii<l,  rii;4t'r  to  (.H'cr  whiiti'vcr  \v;is  in  t!:  ;r 
j)i)\vci'  to  lic,>ii>\v  lor  '"ii  little  hciiil"  or  otlirr  tiivKil  tuv. 
These  jicDpIr  were  tin'  Sar;i|iilKigli,  Niiusc,  Arscck,  aii(l 
MaiiliKjUak,  and  llicy  slunvcil  such  reaililii'ss  to  trade,  thai 
Smith  pmiujuiiced  them  the  "Lest  liiorchaiits  of  all  (illnr 
Huva^^os."  'I'li'\y  ^avc  woiuhMiul  aeeoiiiils  of"  thu  power- 
I'ul  and  warlike  M;u-^.sa\voniekt.'s,  who  lived  to  tlu'  north- 
ward, aiiil  were  identi«.'al  with  the  Iroijiiois  orSix  Nations, 
Some  of  the  erew  I'allin,^'  sick,  and  the  rest  heeoming 
wearv  and  disi-ontented  with  their  miaecu.'it.omed  ratiL'uc 
and  expo.^nre,  Smith,  mueli  a,u:ainst  his  inclination,  tni-nnj 
towards  home,  ''leavinj^  the  hay  some  nine  miles  hroail. 
at  nine  and  ten  fathom  wattjr."  J']ntering  the  I'otomae,  on 
the  Kith  (tf  .Inne,  it  was  determined  to  explore  it,  as  tlnj 
sick  men  had  re<-overed.  No  Indians  were  seen  until  tlic 
eompany  had  jiassed  thirty  miles  up  the  river;  Lut,  ar- 
rivint:  at  a  ereek   in  the  neiirhborhood  of  Oiiawmanieiit, 


■tl 


le  woods  wc 


M'e  laid    with  amhuseades.    to  the  numhir 


of  three  or  four  thousand  siivages,  so  strangely  paintcil. 
grimed  and  disguised,  shouting,  yelling  iiiul  crying  as  .-o 
many  spirits  fiom  hell  could  n(^t  have  showed  more  teiii- 
ble.     Manv  bravados  thev  made,"  but  a  diseluirge  of  1 


lets,  over  the  surfaee  of  th 


water,  (piic 


■klv  el 


ian<re( 


1  tl 


)iil- 
icir 


mood.  Arms  were  flung  d.wu,  hostages  givi.'U,  and  court- 
esy and  kindness  sueeeeded  the  trueuleut  demeanor  which 
was  first  exhibited.  ]\y  the  account  of  the  Incbans,  Pow- 
hatan had  (Vireeted  this  intended  attack;  and,  if  their  re- 
|>resentation  was  true,  lie  was  stimulated  to  such  u  course 
by  suinby  of  Smitirs  enemies  at  .bimestown. 

The  boat's  erew  made  their  way  as  far  uj)  as  the  river 
was  navigable,  eiicounterin<'  various  other  tribes,  some  of 


whom  were  IViendlv.  ani 


d  otl 


lers  hos 


tih 


thunder 


the  English  wea])ons  iie\'er  failed  to  awe  and  subdue  them 


P.'vcr  hanker 
were  attracted 
Btrcaiiis;  and, 
'  were  Icil  bv  si 
oinckc,  to  a  no 
it  Was  on  a  loe 
ting  out  with  si 
The  Indians  w 
tlic;i,  putting  it 
to  jiaini    their 
|.M,kc  Hke  r.lac 
I"irt  asserted  th; 
assayed  in  Mngk 
hut  all  that  Sm 
"  )ii    tilt;   Way 
slieal  Water,  the 
which  were  exei 
.'■wiiril  foi-  this  pi 
|"iidilion,)  beinf 
I'tit  a  long  tail    . 
IS  a  nio>t    poi.S(  > 
hcanled  like  a  sa 
wri.-^t  of  his  arm 
:uid  pain   eonseri 
l'r::vc  captain,   d 
'JTavc  to  be  dug; 
heiing  island.     1 
I'liysieian  ui'  the 
iniicli   that,   that 
sujiper." 

As  they  retur 
judged  from  tliei 
ill  notable  wars; 
;>/'■.  averring  tlia 
U'nn  the  reiloubtj 


n 

i 


INDIANS    (iK   VIliCINIA. 


in] 


Kv('rlKiiik('riii,L,'urLi'r  tlif  prrcious  nictjils,  tln'iulvrntnrcrs 
were  ;ittnirtc(l  liy  ,L,flitU'riii^'  |"!ift*.  'li-s  in  tin;  1)(><1  of  viirioiis 
Btrriiiiis;  ami,  iiialv'iit<,'  it  a  constant  olijtrt  ol'  iii([Miry,  tlicy 
\\\'\v  K'll  by  SDiuo  Imliaiis,  siilijcct  to  tlio  kh\is,  of  Pataw- 
oiiK'kc,  to  a  noted  iiiiii(>,  on  the  little  stfoatn  of  Qtiiou^'li. 
It  was  on  a  rocky  nioiint,  and  tin-  niitcrinj  sought,  when 
(lii<f  (lilt  with  shells  and  liatehrts,  sparklecj  like  aitiniony. 
Tin'  Indians  wero  aernstoniccl  to  \\:\<\\  and  elean.-n-  it,  and 
lliea,  piiltinj^  it  in  small  ha.L-s,  ">.1I  it  all  over  the  country, 
t'l  jiaint  their  bodies,  faees  or  idols;  which  made  them 
I'Kiki'  lik('  lUaekamoors  dusted  ovei"  with  silvt-r."  New- 
jMPit  assei'ted  that  the  contents  of  some()f  those  ha^s,  wlu'ii 
assaycil  in  Mnj^land,  jiroved  tobeexecedini^ly  rich  in  silver; 
hut  all  that  Smith  and  his  men  eolleett'd  was  woithl(>ss. 

Ha  the  Way  t(j\\ards  .lamesttiwn,  as  the  bar^e  lay  in 
sliual  walci',  the  eri'W  aniuseil  themsehcs  by  sjiearini^'  lish, 
which  were  e.\c(!edin;^ly  plenty,  ("attain  Smith,  usinu"  his 
sword  for  this  purpose,  drew  up  a  lish,  [^'  not  knowing  her 
ruiulitioii,)  being  mu(-h  of  the  llishion  of  a  Tliornbaek. 
Iiiit  a  long  tail  like  a  riding  rod,  whereon  the  middle 
is  a  most  poisoned  sting,  of  two  or  three  inches  long, 
hcai'ded  like  a  saw  (jii  each  side,  which  she  strui'k  into  the 
wii.^l  of  his  arm  near  an  inch  and  a  iialf."  ^Fhe  swelling 
;iiid  jiain  conseiiuent  upon  this,  were  so  gri'at  taat  th(i 
iir;!ve  ca))tain,  despairing  of  I'ccoverv,  or<lered  his  own 
Liriive  to  be  dug;  which  was  accctrdingly  done  on  a  lu'igh- 
i'ering  island.  His  time,  howevei',  had  not  yet  come:  the 
jiiiysic'ian  of  the  party  succeeded  in  lelieving  him,  inso- 
much  that,  that  very  inght  "he  ate  of  the  lish  to  his 
supper." 

As  they  returned  to  their  old  rpiarters,  the  Indians 
judged  from  their  appi'aranee  that  they  had  been  engaged 
iu  notable  wars;  au  idea  which  they  failed  not  to  eiic(jur- 
:i_'c.  averring  that  all  the  si)oil  brought  home  wius  taken 
liom  the  redoubtable  AIas.sawomokos. 


I     ' 


• 

I     '  < , 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/ 


O 


{./ 


LO 


I.I 


1.25 


till 

Hi 


2.2 


lis    1 2.0 


1.8 


14    I  1.6 


<^ 


W 


//, 


^;. 


m 


^>i 


°m 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MSBO 

(716)  873-4S03 


) 


.<;/ 


4  *  M-.  ^ 


(/. 


^ 


i: 

,   \   ' 
'  ft 

i  f 'i : 

1 

^'  mf^n 

Ft 

■  t  ■ 

' 

il 

||fi. 

.!! 

1 

1  ;' 

; 

I 


\A'^- 


;s 


'^i  1 . 


1G8 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


At  Jamestown  all  was  found  in  disorder  and  misery,  as 
was  generally  the  case  when  the  master-spirit  was  absent.  | 
''i'hus  ended  the  first  exploration  of  the  unknoAvn  waters  | 
of  the  Chesapeake,  leaving  the  English  still  in  doubt  a.s  ' 
to  its  extent,  and  still  ho})eful  of  eventually  finding  a  pa.-'.s-  ' 
age  thereby  to  tlic  South  Seas!  ! 

On  the  '24th  of  July,  a  second  expedition  was  undertaken  ! 
u[)  the  ba}',  by  Smith,  with  a  boat's  crew  of  twelve  iiicii.  | 
The  Indians  of  Kecoughtan,  with  whom  they  spent  sevrial 
days,  exulted  greatly  in  the  su])})osition  that  the  Kng!l.-li  i 
were  out  on  a  war  expedition  against  their  dreaded  eiio- 
mies,  the  Massawomekes. 

Ti-oeeeding  up  the  bay,  more  than  half  the  party  were 
jtrostrated  by  the  diseases  of  the  clinuite,  and  in  this  crip- 
])l('d  condition  they  came  upon  seven  or  eight  canoes, 
filled  with  Indians  of  the  warlike  tinbe  they  were  sup])o.-iil 
to  be  in  search  of.  Seeing  that  the  Emrlish  showed  i!') 
fi;ar,  but  ])repared  briskly  for  an  engagement,  these  ^las- 
sawomekes  concluded  that  discretion  was  the  better  j)ait 
of  valor,  and  fled  to  the  shore.  Being  tempted  by  the 
oiler  of  some  trifling  toys,  they  at  last  came  out  to  llic 
barge  unarmed,  bringing  presents  of  provisions,  target-;, 
skins,  and  rude  implements  of  warfare.  They  had  been 
engaged  in  war  with  the  Indians  of  the  Tockwogh  ot 
Sas.safras  river,  as  their  fresh  wounds  bore  witness. 

They  disappeared  during  the  following  night,  and  tlie 
exploi'crs  made  their  way  into  the  river  of  Tockwoiiii. 
Seeing  the  Massawomeke  Aveapons,  the  Toekwoghs  wcie 
in  ecstasy,  supposing  that  their  enenues  had  been  defcateil: 
and  led  Snnth  up  to  their  fortified  town;  "Men,  wonun, 
and  children,  with  dances,  song.s,  fruit,  furs,  and  wlial 
Uiey  had,  stretching  their  best  abilities  to  express  tlieir 
loves." 

Here  Snuth  made  some  stay,  sending  messengers  \<> 
invite  a  deputation  from  the  renowned  Sasipiesahanocks 


their  hands   t 


laamicr:  thou 


I 


!§>$% 


INDIANS  OF  VIlUilNIA. 


Iij9 


to  visit  liiiii.  Sixty  of  "those  giant-like  people,"  accord- 
ingly came  down  from  tlicir  countiy,  bringing  presents, 
and  holding  bold  and  familiar  intercourse  with  the  stran- 
gers. The  daily  devotional  exercises  of  pi'ayers  and  jisalms, 
which  our  pi(jus  Caj)tain  regularly  observed,  were  re- 
.-[•(ludcd  to,  on  the  part  of  the  wondering  savages,  by 
strange  ceremonies  of  their  own. 

"They  began  in  a  most  i)assionate  manner,  to  hold  u{) 
their  hands  to  the  Sun,  with  a  most  fearful  song,  then 
emliraeing  our  captain,  the}'  began  to  adore  him  in  like 
laauner:  though  he  rebuked  them,  yet  they  proceeded  till 
tJR'ir  song  was  finished:  which  done,  with  a  most  strange 
riuious  action,  and  a  hellish  voice,  began  an  oration  of 
their  loves." 

They  then  clothed  him  with  rich  skins  and  mantles,  and 
lirolleriug  beads  and  toys,  declared  that  they,  and  all  tluy' 
huil,  were  at  his  service,  if  he  would  but  lend  his  assistance 
against  the  terrible  Massawomekes. 

Returning  to  examine  the  river  itajiahanock.  Smith  fell 
in  with  a  former  ac(]uaintanee,  one  Mosco,  of  Wighcoco- 
moeo.  lie  was  doubtless  a  half-breed,  and  was  su})posed 
to  be  some  Frenchman's  son,  as  he  rc-Joieed  in  the  distin- 
guishing mark  of  a  "thick,  black,  bush  beard,  and  the 
Savages   seldom    have  any  at  all." 

The  l^higlish  fortified  their  boat  b}^  making  a  brcast- 
Wdik  around  the  gun-wale,  of  the  Massawomekc  shields, 
which  were  so  thickly  })lated  as  to  resist  the  arrows  of  the 
savages.  'J'his  stood  them  in  good  stead  in  divers  skir- 
niishes  with  the  llapahanoeks.  On  one  occasion,  thirty  or 
ioriy  of  that  tribe  so  disguised  themselves  with  bushes 
anil  bi'anches,  that,  as  they  stood  discharging  their  aiTows 
upon  the  edge  of  the  river,  the  Knglish  supposed  their 
array  to  be  a  natural  growth  of  shrubs. 

Mosco  accompanied  Smith  in  his  visits  to  many  nations 
on  the  Chesapeake,  and  proved  of  no  little  service,  whether 


,l;f"; 


4.i- 


|l» 


^ 


*' 


i 

1 

■    ii 

^      f 

ii 

'ii 

^1 

:<•' 

\  ■ 

1          '< 

1^-  :        ' 

•it 


' '  »il 


/  ^ 


>   ! 


IH 


1' 


3  1 


;-ii>«^^ 


,^^'. 


170 


INDIAN  IIACES  OJ'  AMKlilCA. 


the  rocoptinn  at  tlu-ir  liands  ^vas  frioiidly  or  hostile.  Thr 
good  will  of  a  party  of  Maiiahocks  was  ^raiiiiMl  by  lucans 
oC  I'avoi'  shown  U)  a  wouiidcd  ])i"isoii(T,  whom  Mosco  wmilil 
hiiii  have;  dispati']i('<l  -"never  was  do^j  more  f'lii'ii.iis 
a,L!aiiist  a  hear,  than  Mosco  was  to  have  beat  out  lijs 
brains."  ''"''•'.)'  qncstioiied  this  eaptive,  Avho  was  ealliVi 
Amorolocls',  about  his  own  and  the  adjoining  ti'ilx'S,  an.'; 
demanded  oC  liim  why  his  people  had  attacked  peacclnl 
sti'aiiL!(M's.  "'I'he  i)oor  savage  mild!)'  answered,"  tha; 
tliey  had  heai'd  that  the  .Knglish  were  "a  ]ieoj)]e  eoiin' 
from  nndcr  the  woi'ld  to  take  their  world  from  them." 
lie  desci'ibeil  the  Monaeans  as  fiiendlv  to  his  tribe,  ami 
said  that  they  lived  in  tlic  mountainous  country  to  tlic 
W(\<t,  "by  small  rivers,  living  upon  roots  and  fruits,  Imt 
ehielly  by  hunting.  The  Massawomeks  did  dwell  upon  ;i 
great  Avater,  and  had  many  boats,  and  so  many  men  tluii 
they  made    war    with  all  the  world." 

In  this,  and  the  j^reeeding  voyage,  the  whole  of  tin; 
extensive  bay  of  Cliesa})eake,  was  explored,  together  will, 
t!ie  lower  }M)rtions  of  the  ])rincipal  rivers  emptying  in!  i 
it;  and  an  accurate  chart  of  the  whole  country  still  heai'.> 
witness  to  the  skill  and  perseverance  of  the  brave  erjin- 
mandcr.  Curious  sketches  of  iiative  chiefs,  and  of  en- 
counters between  them  and  the  English,  accompany  tlio 
maps  which  illu.strate  the  quaint  and  interesting  narrative 
from  wdiich  this  portion  of  our  histoiy  is  druAvn. 

liefore  returning  to  Jamestown,  the  part}^  sailed  for  the 
southern  shores,  and  passed  up  the  l^lizabeth  yixcv  into 
the  "Chisapeack"  country.  They  saw  but  fcAv  dwellings, 
surrounded  by  garden  plots,  but  were  struck  with  ttic 
magnificent  growth  of  pines  which  lined  the  banks.  Tlicnef; 
coasting  along  the  shore,  they  came  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Nandsamuiul,  where  a  few  Indians  were  engaged  in  fish- 
ing. These  tied  in  affright,  but  the  Engli.sh  landing,  ainJ 
leaving  some  attractive  ti'ifles  where  they  would  find  them. 


their  (Icmeanoi 

tliey  invited  tl 

came  on  boan 

Smith  went  up 

sivecurn  fields 

ny,  he  would 

tiie  open  wate 

proved  to  be  w 

u-.'i'c  poured  in 

h'lndreds  of  Ji 

v.ith  armed  me 

iiig  upon  these, 

k'ts,  soon  drove 

The  Indians, 

laics'  ])ou'er,  tt; 

■lown  their  arms 

10  deliver  U])  th 

lltur   hundred  l| 

wngeaucc  of  th 


CDl.O.XATION    OK     1>( 

FOR  SUPPLIES — -] 

TIME  PKES^IV 

FIGHT  WITH 


Ix  the  ensuin 
presid('nt  of  the 
[promptly  to  con 
the  iiiijitary  exe: 
uiid  so  es.sential  i 


i^  .;,  .  i 


it'' I       !.«' 


INDIANS  OF  VIRGINIA. 


171 


tiicir  (leiiicanor  was  soon  clianged.  Singing  and  (lancing, 
t'licy  invited  the  party  to  enter  the  river,  and  one  of  them 
camo  on  board  the  harge.  Conn)lying  with  tlie  request, 
Siiiilh  went  up  the  stream  seven  or  eight  miles,  when  exten- 
sive cum  fiehls  were  seen.  Pereeiving  some  signs  of  treaeli- 
irv,  he  wouhl  not  proceed  farther,  but  endeavored  to  regain 
t'lie  open  water  with  all  possible  expedition.  His  fears 
jU'Dved  to  be  well  grounded;  for  on  the  way  down,  arrows 
w.re  })Oured  into  the  boat  from  either  side  of  the  river  by 
iiuiiilreds  of  Indians,  while  seven  or  eight  canoes  lilled 
with  armed  men  followed  "to  see  the  conclusion."  Turn- 
:;,-■  upon  these,  the  I'higlish,  by  a  volley  from  their  mus- 
k  jis,  soon  drove  the  savages  on  shore  and  seized  the  canoes. 
Tiic  Indians,  seeing  their  invaluable  canoes  in  the  ene- 
mies' ])o\ve]\  to  save  them  from  destruction  readily  laid 
■I'lwn  their  arms;  and,  upon  further  communication,  agreed 
10  deliver  up  their  king's  bow  and  arrows,  and  to  furnish 
!our  hundred  baskets  of  corn  to  avert  the  threatened 
vengeance  of  the  terrible  strangers. 


CIIArXEU   III. 

COKONATION    OF     POWHATAN SMITH's    VISIT    TO    WKROWOCOMOCO 

FOR  SUPPLIES — THEACHKHY    OF  POWIIATAiV — SMITH  A  SliCOND 

TIME  PKEStniVED  BY  POCAHONTAS VISIT  TO   PAMIJNKY 

FIGHT  WITH  THE  KING  OF  PASPAHEGH ASCENDANCY 

OF    THE    ENGLISH. 

Tx  the  ensuing  September,  Smith  was  formally  made 
president  of  the  colony  at  JamCvStown,  and  set  himself 
promptly  to  correct  abuses  and  perfect  the  company  in 
the  military  exercises  so  suited  to  his  own  inclinations, 
uiiil  so  essential  in  their  isolated  and  dangerous  position. 


iiUH 


'if 


I1    \ 


■'    ■      i 

Wm-i 

P^ 

i 

'iiOW^' 

i' 

l--^-. 

■:  Mm 

II 

1     ' 

i 

1 

-^t 


i    '' 


[) 


i 


( 

i 

'P 

■ 

II 

(■■' 


III' 


i  ii 

i 

L                         1 

>       i 


i 


i   i 

!•  ' 

11 

■  11          !:' 

172 


^ 


INlJlAN    liATKS  (jF  AMKKK'A. 


'I'Ik!  wiiiidcrin^  savn'/i-s  woiiM  collect  In  aslonislirnont  tc 
sec  1.li(;s(;  ji(!rl(>i'iiiiiii(;rs,  staiidiii;.'  "  in  !Uiiu,z«;rn('iit  to  belujld 


how  a    file  would  battel-  a  trci',  w  licfc  he  \v(jiil(l  iiiako  tl 
a  inark'     to  sluK^t  at." 


K.'in 


X 


(•\v|M>rt,  .sooii  aCUT,  inauc  his  ii|»)ii'ai'ani'f,  ljfin;_Mii^r  di^ 


'I'Miii  r.ii'jlaiid  iiiaiiy  au\-riitiiiTrs  ill-.-^iiitiu  to  tl 


II'   llll'   Ijc 


tlictii   in   the  new  conntrv:   "thirty  cai'pcntci's,   hu-hai 


nirn,  <rar(  I  criers,  lisnerineii 


ifel'S    111)    o 


f  tr 


) 
ces' 


roc'th 


worth  a  tiionsiMMi  < 


>r  tl 


lelil. 


t)!ael;sniitlis,  masons,  anu 
niith,    wouM    ha\(; 
i'.y  tl 


avs 


^ 


hern 


le  same  ariival,  e;ii 


I  If  a 


lar,!ie  boat,  broui^ht  out  in  live  jiieecSj  tobonsi'd  in  futl 
(.'Xploriitioiis  in  s<'areli  of  the  South  Sea,  and  a  crow 
1 


hiT 


rilliaiit  traj»j>iii;iS  and   reLraJia 
of  Powhatan.     Smith  speaks 
transa<'.tion :   the  "costlv  novelties   had  been    niueji  l)(,.|trr 


n,  ui!.h 

for  the  soletnli  eoron;ttiii;i 

with   La'cat  contemjjt  of  tiii-i 


wc 


11  s]iare(]  than  so  ill-sjieiit,"  for  they  had  the  k 


HI'. 


'fa- 


vour niueh   Ijctter  only  lor  a   plain    piece   ( 


f  ( 


opper  1-1 


lis  statelv  kiiH 


I  of  soliciting  made  1 
;te(l 


urn  so  mueli  o\'erv;ii';c 


iimsell  that  Ik;  r'esj)ecte(l  us  as  niucli  as  nrithiiiL''  .it 
The  ca])taiii,  with  four  (•(>rn[)anioiis,  voluntecivfl  toi:'it<) 


Werowocomoco,  and  invitf;  I'owhatan  to  come  to  .1; 


town  and  reecive  his  presents.     Arrivin;^  at  the  vi 
they  found   that   th(;  chief  was   thirly   mil 


ilni;, 


!ia-<-'. 


es  awav  lio 


home;   l)iit   a   rness<!nger    was   dispatehetl    for    h 
meanwhile,  his  dautihter  I'oeahontas  exertefj  herse 


im,   aii'i 

loll;. 


b 


.t    ol 


•r   abilitv. 


to   di 


ivert   and   entertain   her  i/ii(st.= 


lis  was  done,  alter  a  str'ani!"( 


fas! 


lion. 


A 


m; 


isrj 


ueraue  <laii<v 


() 


line  thirty  young  women,  nearly  naked,  was  ii:^1miv,-j 


in  bv  such  a  "  hidecjiis  noi.se  aii<l  shriekiii'r,"  that  tin;  K 


lisl 


I   sei/ 


ed 


on  some  o 


Id 


men  who 


stood 


oy,  as  Ik 


<^'\"(': 


thinking  tlint  treaeliery  w;is  intended.  '^J'hey  were  i-eli(;vi(| 
from  appn/hension  by  the  assurances  of  I'oeahontas,  and 
the  pagc.'ant  proceeded.  I'Ik;  leader  of  the  dance  was  decked 
with  a  "  fair  pair  of  })uck's  }K)rris  on  lier  ln-ad.  and  an 
Ottcr'.s  skin  at  her  gir'dle."     'i'lie  others  were  also  JKjriicd, 


'.vi_Mvanis,  "a! 
ever  with  ci'ow 

li'ilioii.^I V  crvii 

('[ion    Tow 

Jatii(,'Sl(Mvii   fi  1 

a  king;  and   t^ 

r'Hiiid  to  \\'er'(. 

iiiiist  lia'/e  Ijce 

were  brought  ' 

turc  set  up,  his 

put  on  him,  Ije 

not  Inirl,  him : 

kneel     t(;  n;cei 

majesty  nor  in(3 

endured  so  mat 

as  tired  them  a 

ers,  iie  a  little  t 

tlicir  hands,  j)u1 

])i.stol    the  Hoat: 

that  the  King  si 

:  was  well." 

After  this,  Nc 

made   some   iin 

among  the  y\(m. 

;  mines  of  the  j)r( 

:  tions  and  diseov 

The  In(hans  r 

Iiatari  seemed  tc 

,  the  colony.     W 

ill  eiifor'cing  sup 


if 


INDIANS  OK  VIUOINIA. 


IT.'i 


aii'l  i;:iiiit.(;(l  uikI  •■quipped,  "(;vci-\-  otK;  with  tlicir  .s«^V('r!il 
il'vicf'S.  Tlicso  fiomls  willi  most  licl!i.-h  sliDHts  iiikI  crii's, 
1  iMiiii,-.''  fVoiii  ;uiioii;^f  1  lie  t rocs,  cast.  1  licmsflvcs  in  a  riii;,' 
;ii,n!it  !ic  lire,  sinLrin,tf  and  dancini.^  willi  mostcxccljcnt  ill- 
\;ii'i<'tv.''  A  I'tcrwanls,  wUcn  Sniitli  had  ciitcrc(i  one  ofllicir 
\\i_''\vanis,  "all  these  Nymphs  more  loi'niented  him  than 
ever  with  ci'owdin;/,  prcssin,!/ and  han;j;in'.f  about  him,  most 
i.ilioii.^lv  crvinir,  Lovi;  yon  not  uk;'/   hn'c  you  not  me?" 

I'pon  Powhatan's  return,  h(;  proudly  rc-lusi^d  to  '/n  to 
Jaiiii.'Stown  Ibr  his  pres(3nls,  standin^f  up(jii  liis  di.irnity  as 
.1  kiii.'i;  and  the  robes  an<l  trinkets  were  accor<lin,',dy  sent 
rniuid  to  Worowocomoco  by  water.  The  (•oronation  scene 
1III1.4  ha\'(;  ijceii  ludicr(jus  in  tiic  extreme:  "the  presiMits 
were  bi'ouLdit  him,  his  liasin  and  I'lwcr,  I>ed  ami  I'urni- 
liirc  set  up,  his  scarlet  cloak  and  aj)pai'cl  with  much  ado 
put  on  him,  beinj^  pei'suaded  by  Namontack,  they  would 
not  liurt  him:  l>ut  a.  foul  trouble  tln-i'*!  was  to  mak(!  him 
kneel  to  re(;eivc  his  ('rown,  he  neither  knowin;:;  the; 
in.'ijcsty  nor  meaning  oi' a,  ei'own,  nor  bending  (;f' the  knee, 
endured  so  many  persuiisions,  examples  and  instruetions 
as  tired  the.m  all;  at  last,  by  leaning  hard  on  his  should- 
ers, li(!  a  litth;  stooj)ed,  and  three  having  the  crown  in 
their  hands,  j)ut  it  on  his  lu^ad,  when,  by  the  warning  of  a 
j)i.st')l  the  IJoats  wore  propanjd  with  such  a  volley  of  shot, 
tiiat  the  King  start  up  with  a  horrible  f(.'ar  till  he  saw  all 
was  well." 

After  this,  Newport,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
made  some  unimj)ortant  explorations,  above  the  falls, 
among  the  ^fonaeans.  '^j'heir  continual  greedy  search  for 
mines  of  the  ])recious  metals  interfered  with  useful  oj)era- 
tions  and  discoveries. 

The  Indians  now  became  unwilling  to  trade,  and  I'ow- 
liatan  seemed  to  have  adopted  the  policy  of  starving  out 
the  colony.  We  can  hardly  justify  the  course  of  Smith 
in  enforcing  supplies,  on  any  other  plea  than  that  of  no- 


m^^ 

1' 

i '    .    11 

• 

(■:  ■ 

'f!i. 

■% 

>  iv 

.t. 

t 

"    \"^       ":■ 

* 

I* 


)■  5'    .  \  it 


*,     .\l 


t  , 


t 


"■  I 


if*  j  ;  ^ 


M 


\ 


.'■,    !' 


,::l 


k  i 


h. 


!  (1 


1 

1 

7                   \ 

1:1 

! 

,i 

11 

■it! 
'1 

A 

•     1              !, 

■t 

-■■^ 


171 


XDIAN'   HACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


cc.-sily;   ]iiit  (•(■rfiiiii  if.  is,  tliiit,  In- ;il(;nc  sfcmod  to  li;ivn  tliiit 
jHiwcr  iiikI   iiifliiciicc  over  tlii'  sitii|tl()  suv.'i;/f'S  wiiich  fouM 

.si'i'llir  ill  once  tlicir  'lA'C  iUl'l   l<';i.r. 


i)\V 


li;it;iri   liaviii,;/  ;it  last  a;/!'*'"''!  to  fiiiiiisli  a  siii[) 


of  corn,  if  \\\t'.  lOriirlisli  wftuld  l)ui|(l  liim  a  lionsf,  and  fiir- 


rush   liini  with  a  "rrindstonc,  a  <• 


[\ti[   iii'ii,  sonii'  aril 


ro|)t)cr  anu   In-aM 


men  \vci'(!  sent  to  W'ci'owf 


M'(  inio''!' 


to  cotiiMKMicc  opi'iations.     ^I'lin'c  of  llic-c  wcic.  I  )iitciini 


'i 


o  carry  out  tins  contract,  and  piocniM;  the  ]ii( 


i)nn> 


f'li 


corn,  Smith  Htartx^l  for  the  camp  of  l*owhataii  towards  t! 
hist  fjf  l)cccniljcr,  (lf)08,)  aci-oni[iani<Ml  l)y  twcnty-scv 
men  in  tlic  bar^^o  ;irid  pinnace,  whih;  a  numltcr  of  oth'TH 
crossed  th(!  country  to  build  the  j)ro|«os(;d  house.  7\t  \V;ir- 
raskoyack,  the  friendly  kin;.^  cautioned  him  a,L';airis1  lfiii_' 
deecived  by  Powhatan's  exj)ressioiis  of  kindness,  insisting 
that  treaelieiy  was  interi'led. 

Christinas  was  spent  by  the  jiai'ty  at  ]\eeou'_ditan,  on  tlie 
left  batdc  of  .laiiifs'  ri\-<T,  nciir  its  niouth  ;   ;irid  mcrrv  clifcr 


■I'O- 


was  inaM(!  upon  ,!j;iine  and  oysters.      I  iiey  rcaejiefl  \\  ( 
woeomoco  on  the;  J2th  of  .January,  and  lauded  with  niudi 


as  U\('.  ri\(T  wa 


s  bordered  with   ice,  to  br 


C'l 


difiicultji 

tliroUf.di  which   they  were  obli^'^ed  to  wade  waist-dccp,  "a 

lli'dit-shot  throu'jh  this  nuiddv  f'ro/eii  oase." 


1,    I 


i*owdiataii 


ave   them    v(nnson    and    turkies   for   tii'ir 


iinnicdiatc    use     Ijut   when    the   subief;t   of  the  eoi' 


n   was 


)Vi  i;ic|ie( 


1,1 


le  proieste(l  that  lie  and  his  peo[ 


)!e  had  little  or 


n(.)nc,  and  demanded  forty  sw(jrds  in  case  he  should 


ll'O- 


inir  liiin 


cui'c  forty  baskets.  Smith  rc])lied  steridy,  upbi'aid 
for  du)ilieity  and  faithlessness  and  eautioninL,^  him  ncjt  to 
jirovoko  liostilitics  where  fricndshi])  only  was  intended. 
'J'he  wily  chiefj  on  the  other  liaud,  made  many  deprecatory 
speeches,  continually  ur^nn,<r  Smith  to  direct  his  men  to 
lay  down  their  arnjs,  that  the  conference  should  appear  to 
be  peaceful,  and  the  Indians  feel  at  case  and  in  safetj', 


win 


Icl 


jrim;in<j  in  their  corn 


AfUT  much 
of  ceni  was  p 
'['.r  and  charai 

JM'/CDllM    \h) 
■•HI  SMJipOSf,',  S 

!:a\'ili'i  outli\' 
hi'  ".-(J  simple 

lll'^at,      li(!     We 

(■Iiilili'''n,  lau;r 
hatclicts,  or  wh 
'.>>  Ily  from  all, 
rwets,  ;ind  sue 
lirithcr  re.-t,  c 
watch.  ;iii(i   il 

c' lines  Captain 
Thus  the  timi 

[i,Tc.'ivil|;_r     that 

iilijiertnnit  v  to  ; 
i'c  hroii;_dit  to  si 
on  ho.vrd.  l*ow 
.'•e.Mt  1  v'.'irrior 
v.-jiilc  the  body  (. 

Allied  only  by 
r')rlh,  ''with  hi.- 
SMcli  a  p;issaL''e  ii 
.-li"i)t,  they  next 
tlialSniith  hail  r 
tiiiit  he  had  sent 
stolen,  and  rene 

TIk;  boats  bei; 
obliged  to  spend 
ceived  himself  f 
l»*'oi»l.',  with  the 
of  the    iiiLfht. 
God  di;d  preycnt 


I.NhlANS  OF   VIltCIMA. 


(  •) 


After  iinicli  bar;.;;;!!!)!!!!/  ainl  lia;j"'/li;i;_'-,  a  si!!all  <[iia!itity 
(if  col!!  was  ]»n)('iii'('(l,  and  I'owliata!!  iiiadi:  a  most,  plausi- 
'^j' uii'l  cliarai'tci'istic  s|((;rc|i  to  [ici'siiaMc  Siiiith  that  iiotli- 
i;i:'cMiil(l  1)(!  fiii'tl!!'!' (Vol!!  liis  ii!t<'!itioii  ihaii  hostility,     ('an 

lioiiM 


'.  mU  su]i|ios(;,  said  ln',  that  I,  a  ii!ai!  of  a;/''  ai!fl  ex  per 
iiaviliL'  o!itIiv('(l    thf('f'   L''<Ma'i'atioi 


IS    o|     |||\-    pcopli'     s 


he '"so  simple  as  not,  to  know  it  is  hitti'r  to  rat  ;roo(l 
iiVMt,  lie  well  !ii!'l  slccj)  fpiictly  with  my  woi!!<'ii  an.! 
(■'iiil(lr''ii,  laii;/h  ai!'l  hi'  iiicny  with  \oi!,  jia\<;  cojipcc, 
liiiti'hct.-,  or  what  I  want  lirin-j  yoiir  (rinirj :  than  he  (oi-ccil 
all,  to  lie  cr;]!!  ii!  thi;  woo(|s,  fi'('(l    upon    acorns, 


n  llv  li'om 


pi'its,  a  I 


ii'l  such  tra.-li,  and  hi;  so  liiintcil  i»y  yon  that,  I  can 


ted  1. 


iifitJi<'r   I'i'.-t,    cat,     nor 


Slcci) 


ait   mv 


lin'(l 


rridi    must 


w.itcli.  all' 


I   if  a  {wi'j  l)Mt  lircak,    (.'vcrv 


oi!('   crii 


■th,  ti 


!('rc 


oii!!('S  Captai!!  Smith, 


us  the  time  was  spent,  in  useless  diseonrsi',  an<l  Stiiitli, 

'hiii'j"    for  an 


■ivm:/   that    t 


le    liiMlaliS    were    oiiK'  Wati 


iftniiils'  to  attack  hiii!   niiawai'e.-   oi'. ji'i-e(l  thi'  liar'j'e  to 


i  I' hroii'jht  to  shoic,  and  the  pittance  of  coi-n  to  lie  stowed 

■ed,  laif   immeiliatel'y' 
and  cut  oil"  Smith 


oil  ii();',i'< 


1.    r 


iwhatai!   then   (lisanpeai 


•lit 


ari'iors  to  snrroiiiMJ  the  hi >\\<i 


Wll! 


le  the  ])odv  of  the  I'aiLdisi! 


Wel-e  en'jao-c(|  with  t! 


le  hai'i/e 


Aidef]  'tnly  by  oik;  coinpanion,  tla;  valiant  cajitain  iii.<licd 
f'trth,   ''with    his   j)istol,    sword    and    tai-^'et,"  and   "madf! 


sacii  a  ])assa,L';e  anioiifr  tliese  nakeil  Devils,  that,  at  his  hi'st 
.-liiMjt,  tliey  next  him  tnnihled  one  over  aiiothei-."  Seeim^ 
tlial  Smith  had  rejoined  his  company,  I'owhatan  |ircteni|cd 
iliat  he  had  sent  his  ]ieo])l(j  t(j  .Lfuard  the  corn  from  hejric 
stolen,  and  nmewed  his  protestations  of  friendsl!i[). 

TIk!  boats  beini^  h^ft  ashon;  Itv  the'  tid',  the  captain  was 
ohli'i'ed  to  sy)end  tlic;  ni^iht  on  shore.  Powhatan  now  con- 
ceived himself  snre  of  his  victims,  and  e-athered  all  his 
|H'0])le,  with  the  intention  of  snrprisinL,'  Sinitli  nialer  cover 
of  the  iiiirht.  "  Xotwitlistaiidini/;  tin-  eternal  all-secin^f 
Ged  dijd  prevent  liim,  and  by  a  strange  means.       I''or  Poca- 


!i|l 


'•(ti 


I'i 


'(1 


m  "• 


.1  m  ■  !• 


# 


^  t 
.•i''. 

m 

1 

■  ■  J 

Am 

1 

i| 

w 

- 1  '1 


1 

1 , 

4>- 

<■■■* 

.w<# 

;ffi 

170 


IM'I.W    HACKS    OF    AMKIMCA. 


lioiilus,  liis  (It'iiiTstjrwcl  and  dau^^litri',  in  tliat  daik  iii-zti 
caiiH!  lliroiiifli  tlif  iiksoiiio  woods,  and  told  our  (Jai.tain 
great,  vlu'cv  should  1)(' sent  us  Ity  and  liy;  but  I'o\vli;itaii 
n\\i\  all  the  power  lie  could  make,  would  al\er  eonu.'  aii4 
kill  us  all,  if  they  that  hi'ou^hl  it  could  not  kill  us  with 
our  own  weapons  when  wo  were  at  su|)j)er.  Therclinv 
if  we  would  live,  she  wished  us  j)resently  to  Ix;  l">ii(\ 
Such  thiii,u,s  us  she  delighted  in  he  would  have  given  Inr; 
but  with  the  tears  running  down  her  eheoks,  she  said 
she  durst  not  bo  seen  to  havo  any;  for  if  rowhatiin  shon!.! 
kiu)W  it  she  were  but  dead,  and  so  slie  run  away  bv  Ikt- 
self   as  she  catno." 

One  can  readily  iinagi>ie  tlic  distress  of  the  poor  cliiiii 
at  feeling  thus  compelled,  by  her  affection  for  her  Knglisli 
friend,  to  become  unfaithful  to  her  father  and  her  own 
j)eople. 

'J'he  feast  was  sent  in  sliortly  after,  by  a  mmibcr  o{ 
strong  warriors,  who  were  very  earnest  in  tlieir  invitation 
to  the  l)arty  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  fall  to.  The 
matches  which  the  Knglish  kej)t  burning  met  Avith  their 
decided  disapproval,  the  smoke,  as  they  averred,  inakini: 
them  sick.  Smith,  l)eing  forewarned,  did  not  fail  to  spend 
the  night  in  vigilance,  and  sent  word  to  Powhatan  that  he 
Mi  well  convinced  of  In's  villanous  intentions,  and  should 
be  ])repared  for  him.  'I'hc  Dutchmen,  who  were  with  tin: 
king,  were  all  along  supposed  to  be  implicated  in  his  treaeli- 
ery,  being  inimical  to  Smith,  and  glad  of  an  op])ortunitv  to 
d(\stroy  him.  After  his  departure  from  Werowoeornoco, 
two  of  them  hastened  to  Jamestown,  and,  by  various  jiro 
tences,  obtained  a  quantity  of  arms,  which,  with  the  assi.-Jt- 
ance  of  some  Indian  companions,  they  carried  of!"  to  Pow- 
hatan. In  return  for  this  assistaiice,  he  promised  them 
immunity  from  the  liavoc  that  sliould  overtake  the  colonv, 
and  high  office  and  power  in  his  own  service. 

Continuing  liis  search  for  i)rovision,  Smith  arrived  at 


INDIANS   OK  VIIir.INrA. 


177 


I'amunky,  ulu^rc  Opccliaiiciiiiou.u;!!  rocirivi'd  liim  nitli  ;ij)- 
larciit  kiiKliics-!,  ]»ut  sliowcil  no  nvuliiicss  to  trailc  Smith 
ivi.'iiinli'd  liiiii  "f  fonncr  jn-otnises  ;iiiil  iiijiii'ics,  ;uh1  rx- 
Mv.»-i'il  luK'tt'i'tiiiiwitioii  to  ol)tain  sii|ij 'lies;  jjfoUt  riii;.' just 
]i,'ivni<'iit.  'I'lii'  cliii  r  lllaIla,^■(■(l  to  tlin-oy  tin;  cai'taiii  and 
\[\<  "i>\i\  liriccii"  into  liis  house,  cxliibiting  some  baskets 
of  curii,  which  lie  alieL'^ed  were  jirocure(l  witli  ,L-re,  t  (hlTi- 
cultv,  hut  in  the  Tnoaiitiinc  some  seven  hnndp''!  iirnieil 
warriors,  hy  his  orders,  surrounded  the  buihling. 

Our  hrav(!  eaptaiu,  first  exhortiif.tf  his  men  to  sliow  no 
sijiis  ol'  fear,  now  sternly  addressed  the  kini^,  ehalh'iiL;iii^f 
liiiii  to  single  combat,  with  equal  arms,  upon  an  island  in 
the  river.  Ojicc'lianoauough  still  pretended  good  will  and 
l'ru'iid>iiip,  and  att(niij)ted  to  entice  Smith  out  at  the  door, 
Iv  iironiises  of  numifieent  pi'esenfs:  "the  bait  was  g'uardcil 
v.iih  at  least  two  hundred  men,  and  thirty  lying  under  a 
LTcat  tive  (that  lay  thwart,  as  a  burricad(j)  each  his  arrow 
iiockod  ready  to  shoot." 

Sinitli,  perceiving  that  prompt  action  was  now  necessary, 
ftirang  ujjon  the  king,  and,  holditig  him  by  the  fore-lock 
with  Olio  luind,  while,  witli  tho  oth(>r,  he  held  a  cocked 
jiistol  to  his  breast,  lie  UmI  him  forth  among  his  })eoplc. 
('[icchaneanough,  coinpl(!tely  cowed,  delivered  u})  his  arms, 
iiml  all  his  warriors,  ama/.cd  at  the  Knglishman's  audacity, 
laid  theirs  upon  tlie  ground. 

Still  keeping  hold  of  the  chiefs  hair.  Smith  made  a  brief 
oration,  threatiMiim;!:  terrible  vemreance  if  a  droi)  of  Mug- 
lisli  hlood  should  be  spilt,  and  declaring  that  if  they  would 
not  sell  him  corn  he  would  freight  his  ship  with  their  car- 
casses. He  promised,  moreover,  continued  friendship  if 
no  further  cause  for  complaint  were  given.  All  now  made 
friendly  j^rotestations,  and  brought  in  abundance  of  i)ro- 
vision;  but,  as  Smith  lay  down  to  recruit  himself  with  a 
little  sleep,  a  great  number  of  the  savages  rushed  in  to 
ovcij tower  him.  This  attack  wius  rej)elled  as  succcsst''ully 
12 


t 

!*•                 ' 

A 

t';     ■ 

\ 

.■f '. 

=;•    ^ 

>•■ 


i- 

;i|'^i 


I J 


r 


~-l\ 


178 


INDIAN'  HACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


and  promptly  ;is  tlio  lirst.  'l\\o.  kin;;  in  u  lt'n;it]iy  speech 
cxcusdd  ami  cxpIaiiKMJ  the  niovctnent,  und  tlu;  day  cinkii 
in  pi'iU!cl'iii  triKli!  and  IjarUr. 

At  this  time  arrived  one  Hieliard  Wyflin,  who  IkhI  \iii. 
tiiroii.sly  rnad(!  liis  way  alone  thrmii^h  ihi;  wildcrncs,.,  to 
iiiinouneo  to  Smith  a  ^reat  loss  which  tiie  colony  haij  iint 
with  in  the  death  of  Oosnoll  and  ci'^ht  cdmpaiiions.  Tl.-r 
iiad  started  iti  a  skill'  for  the  Isle  <;!'  llo^s,  and  were  iip^t 
hy  a  ^alo  "(that  extn^iiic  IVo/cn  lime)"  and  drdwiici], 
Wyflin  had  stopped  at  Powhatan's  head-([uai'ters,  and  only 
escaped  destruelion  hy  tin;  kindness  ol'  the  Mn;;lishmai:'.s  |;iht 
friend  Pocahontas.  She  "  hid  him  i'or  a  time,  and  sent  tlicin 
who  pursned  hiiri  the  (tleun     (iontrary  way  to  seek    him,'' 

Conc(!alin<;  this  dististrous  intelligence  fi'oin  his  follow 
ers,  Captain  Smith  si-t  Opechancanough  at  liberty,  ;ii,il 
again  end)arked,  intending,  ere  his  return  to  .Jamestnuii. 
to  secure  the  person  of  Powhatan.  That  chief  hail  issutij 
general  orders  for  tla^  di'slructi()n  of  Smith,  ami  cvciv 
where,  as  the  boat  passed  along  the  river  bank,  crowds  nl 
Indians  would  appear,  bringing  com  in  baskets,  and  otl'ti- 
ing  it  to  the  company  if  they  would  come  for  it  unariimi. 
Their  intention  Avas  evidently  to  draw  the  English  into  an 
and)useade.  The  ca})tain  succeeded  in  surprising  one  uf 
thc^se  parties,  and  obtaining  their  provision. 

Some  of  them,  Vv-ho  consented  to  trade,  suji]ilic(l  the 
English  with  poiscMied  food,  which  was  eaten  l)y  Smith 
and  others,  but  the  jioison  did  not  prove  sudiciently  poti'Ht 
to  destroy  their  lives.  Suspicion  fell  upon  a  vigmnus 
young  warrior  named  Wccuttanow,  as  the  author  of  this 
treachery;  but  he,  having  forty  or  fifty  companions  with 
him,  "so  proudly  braved  it  as  though  he  ex])ected  to  in- 
counter  a  revenge. — AVhicli  the  President  (Smith)  perceiv- 
ing in  the  midst  of  his  company,  did  not  only  beat,  but 
spurned  him  like  a  dog,  as  scorning  to  do  him  any 
worse  mischief." 


i  4 


ir'  II 


>\  :       ttl^i  '       ^     ill 


IN'DIANHOI'  VIIUJI.MA. 


179 


At  olli(>r  i)laccs  wliorc  provision  was  souglit,  it  was  plain 
lliiit  the;  Indians  were  tlicinselvcs  in  want,  and  "itnpai'  d 
iluit  liltlo  tlioy  had  with  snch  coniphiints  and  tears  from 
tho  eyes  of  women  and  ehiUlren  as  he  had  been  too  eruel 
\n  have  been  a  Christian  that  wonld  not  have  been  satis- 
fii'il  and  laovcil  v.ith  eom[)jussion." 

rowhatan,  (;uitii)iie(l  by  "those  damned  iJutebrnen," 
iiail  left  Werewocomoeo,  with  all  his  elleets,  before  Smith 
arrived  there,  and  the  plan  of  making  him  prisoner  was 
llioroforo  abandoned.  I  hire  Smith  breaks  out  into  a  spirited 
jiistilieation  of  hiscon^luet  and  j)urposes,  eomplaining  that 
fault  had  been  found  with  liim,  by  some,  for  eruelty  and 
liai'shiiess,  and  by  others  for  want  of  energy  and  determin- 
aiiuii.  lie  draws  a  strong  eonti'ast  between  the  proeeed- 
iiii^.s  of  the  I'.nglish  eolony  and  the  manner  in  whieh  tiie 
,^|i!iiiiards  usually  followed  nj)  their  discoveries.  It  was 
nut  {)loasiiig,  be  says,  to  some,  that  be  bad  temporized  with 
siuli  a  treacherous  people,  and  "that  he  washed  not  the 
;:n;vuid  with  their  bloods,  nor  showed  such  strange  inven- 
!ii»ns  in  mangling,  murdering,  ransacking,  and  destroying, 
(ii.s  (lid  the  Spaniards,)  the  simple  bodies  of  such  ignorant 

i^dUls." 

The  renegade  Dutchmen  had  a  place  of  rendezvous  rear 
Jamestown,  known  Jis  the  "glass  house,"  whither  they 
ivsortcd,  with  their  Indian  associates,  to  carry  on  ihcir  sys- 
tem of  pilfering  arms  and  other  articles  from  the  colony. 
Captain  Smith  making  a  visit  to  this  spot,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  arresting  one  of  them,  named  Francis,  whom  ho 
had  heard  to  be  there,  was  set  upon,  as  he  returned  alone, 
I'V  tlie  king  of  Paspahegh,  "a  most  strong  stout  savage," 
and  a  terrible  personal  encounter  ensued.  The  Indian 
closed  upon  him,  so  that  he  f.'ould  make  no  use  of  his  fal- 
chion, and,  by  sheer  strength,  d'ugged  him  into  the  river. 
After  a  desperate  struggle.  Smith  succeeded  in  grasping  the 
Bavage  by  the  throat,  and  in  drawing  his  weapon.    "  Seeing 


M 


:i  m 


't  ■.!•  I't 


,;nilj 


;■     ■■■^ 

1 . 

,     i 

-)!■' 

IT   t 


1 '  '}'■ .'     ■' 

;.l 


I  :':    :} 


..  i  i 

'I-    f    I  ! 


Li 


III;   -il^   J: IS 


!  'i 


180 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


how  pitifully  lie  begged  for  Lis  life,  lie  led  him  })ris()iif'i 
to  .fames '^Fow II,  and  put  him  in  chains,"  ]Iis  W(nn(!i 
and  children  came  every  day  to  visit  him,  bringing  ])r(.'s- 
cuts  to  j»ropitiate  the  English.  Being  carelessly  guarded, 
the  king  finally  made  his  escape.  In  attempts  to  recover 
him,  some  lighting  and  bloodshed  ensued,  and  two  In- 
dians, named  Kemj)  and  Tussore,  "the  two  most  exact  vil- 
lains in  all  the  Country,"  were  taken  prisoners.  Sinitli, 
with  a  corps  of  soldiery,  proceeding  to  punish  the  IndiuiiH 
on  the  Chickahorniny,  passed  by  ras])ahegh,  and  there  con- 
ed ud(!d  a  j)eace  with  the  natives.  They  at  first  ventured 
to  attack  him,  but  unable  to  resist  the  Englisli  weaj)oiis 
tln^y  threw  down  tlndr  arms,  and  sent  forward  a  youn;^' 
warrior,  called  Okaning,  to  make  an  oration. 

He  re})rcsented  that  his  chief,  in  effecting  an  escape,  had 
but  followed  the  instincts  of  nature;  that  fowls,  bca.^ts, 
and  fishes  strove  to  avoid  captivity  and  snares,  and  why 
should  not  man  be  allowed  so  universal  a  privilege?  He 
added  that,  if  the  English  would  not  live  at  peace  witli 
lliem,  the  tribe  must  abandon  the  country,  and  the  sup- 
plies which  the  colony  had  heretofore  obtained  from  them 
be  thereby  cut  off. 

T\\o  power  and  influence  of  Smith  among  the  savages 
was  infinitely  increased  by  a  circumstance  which  occurred 
inimediately  after  his  return  to  Jamestown.  A  pistol  liiid 
been  stolen  by  a  Chickahominy  Indian,  and  his  two  broth- 
ers, suj)posed  to  be  y)rivy  to  the  theft,  had  been  seized,  to 
sectirc  its  return.  One  of  them  was  sent  in  search  of  tlic 
missing  article,  assured  that  his  brother  should  be  hanged 
if  it  was  not  forthcoming  within  twelve  hours.  Smith, 
"pitying  the  poor  naked  Savage  in  the  dungeon,  sent  liiin 
victuals  and  some  Char-coal  for  a  fire:  ere  midnight,  his 
brother  returned  with  the  Pistol,  but  the  poor  Savage  in 
the  dungeon  was  so  smothered  with  the  smoke  he  had 
made,  and  so  pilcously  burnt,"  that  he  appeared  to  be 


INDIANS  OF  VIUdlNIA. 


181 


ilad.  Ilis  ])rotlK3r,  ovcrwliclrncd  with  grief,  uttered  such 
tdiicliiiig  l.'iinentations  over  the  body,  that  Captain  Smith, 
iillhough  feeling  Httle  hope  of  sue(;ess,  lussured  him  that 
lie  would  bring  the  dead  Indian  to  life,  j)rovided  he  and 
his  fellows  would  give  over  their  thieving.  Energetic 
treatment  restored  the  po(;r  fellow  to  eonseiousncss,  and, 
his  burns  being  dressed,  the  simple  })air  were  sent  on 
ihcir  way,  each  with  a  small  present,  to  spread  the  report, 
I'lir  and  near,  tint  Cai)tain  Smith  had  [)0wer  to  restore  the 
ih'ail  to  life;.  Not  l<jng  after,  several  Indians  were  killed 
!i\'  the  exj)losion  of  a  quantity  of  powder,  whieh  they 
wiri'  attempting  to  dry  uj)on  a  plate  of  armor,  as  they  had 
S'Tii  th(!  English  do.  "TlK^seand  many  other  such  ])retty 
Acvidcnts,  so  amazed  and  frighted  both  I'owhatan  and  all 
his  j)eojile,"  that  they  eame  in  from  all  (piarters,  returning 
j>tolen  property,  and  begging  for  favour  and  peace:  "and 
all  tlie  country,"  says  the  narrator,  "became  absolutely  as 
n'oc  for  ns,  as  for  themselves." 


C  II  AFTER   IV. 

DISTUKSS  OV  THK  eOLONIES MAIITIN  A  N' IJ  WKST's  SKTTLF.MENTS 

AKKIVAI-  OF    I,()KD  UK   I,A   WAKRK TALI ATIONS  UPON  THE 

NATIVKS SKIZUIfK  OF  POCAHONTAS  :    HKR  MARRIAGE 

PKACE  WITH  THK   INDIANS POCAHONTAS  VISITS 

ENGLAND:    HER  DEATH  —  IJEATIt   O!'  POW- 
HATAN— POKy's   SETTLEMENT. 

"While  Captain  Smith  remained  in  America,  and  con- 
tinued in  power,  he  maintained  his  authority  over  the 
natives  In  a  grievous  famine  tliat  succeeded  the  events 
we  have  just  detailed,  they  proved  of  infinite  service  in 
providing  the  wild  products  of  the  forest  for  the  starving 


,  I 


# 


!■'  1 


I  '•(■ 


•• 


\  :'i;' 


lit' '  I  i 


182 


INDIAN   11A(;K.S  of  AMKllICA. 


colonists.  Many  of  the  Kngli.sh  wci'e  sent  out  to  live  with 
the  savages,  and  learn  their  arts  of  gathering  and  prejjar- 
ing  the  roots  and  other  edibles  that  must  take  ihu  jmicc 
of  eorn,  'J'heso  were  treated  with  every  kindness  hy  the 
Indians,  "of  whom,"  says  Smith,  "there  was  more  li(i|i(,' 
to  make  better  Christians  and  good  subjcets  than  tlie  one- 
half  of  those  that  eounterfeited  themselves  b»jth."  Kciiip 
and  Tussin'e,  who  had  been  set  at  libertv,  I'emained  liiciv,- 
alter  stauneh  adherents  to  the  Kns^lish  interests.  Suinlrv 
malcontents  belonging  to  the  i-olony  had  fled  inio  tin; 
woods,  thinking  to  live  in  ease  among  the  natives,  wiioin 
they  promised  revenge  upon  their  old  conqueidr,  th^ 
president.  Kemj),  however,  instead  of  giving  ear  to  tlu'St; 
j)ersuasions,  fed  them  "with  this  law,  who  would  lujt  work, 
must  not  eat,  till  they  were  near  starved  indeed,  eon- 
tinually  threatening  to  beat  them  to  death;"  and  llually 
carried  them  forcibly  back  to  Captain  Smith. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  sunnuer  of  l(iUi),  large  supplies 
came  over  from  England,  and  a  givat  number  of  l'aeli(;u.s 
and  disorderly  adventurers  were  brought  into  the  new 
settlement.  Unwilling  to  submit  to  the  authority  of  the 
president,  insatiate  after  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  cow- 
ardly in  battle,  and  cruel  and  treacherous  in  })eaco;  their 
distress  proved  commensurate  with  their  unthi'ift.  At 
Nansemund,  a  company,  under  one  Captain  Martin,  after 
wantonly  provoking  th»  ill-will  of  the  natives,  was  unable 
to  resist  their  attacks;  and  another  division,  under  Wi^i, 
which  attempted  a  settlement  at  the  falls  of  James'  rivri, 
proved  equally  inellicient  and  impolitic.  "The  pof)r  sa- 
vages that  daily  brought  in  their  contributions  to  tiie 
President,  that  disorderly  company  so  tormented  thnsc 
})Oor  souls,  by  stealing  their  corn,  robbing  their  gar- 
dens, beating  them,  breaking  their  houses  and  keej)iiig 
some  prisoners,  that  they  daily  complained  to  Captain 
Smith,  he  bad  brought  them  for  protectors  worse  enemies 


ti 


;■  I' 


INDIANS  OF  VI  Ur:  INI  A. 


183 


than  tli('   Monacans  tlicinsclvcs:  tli<y  desired  pardon  if 
hereafter  tliey  defended  themselves." 

Carryini^  out  tliis  intention,  the  Indians  fell  upon  the 
flirt  inunediately  after  Sniitli's  departure,  he  liaving  set 
.viil  for  .hxmcstown.    His  vessel  takinfT  o-round  before  he  had 

O    O 

proceeded  far,  he  wasealled  upon  to  interfere,  and  brought 
matters  to  an  aniieable  conclusion,  removing  the  Phiglish 
fVoiii  tlie   inconvenient  spot  tlicy  had  selected  for  their 
haliitution  into  the  pleasant  country  of  Powhatan. 
Before  reaching  Jamestown,  Ca])tain  Smith  met  with  so 

'  severe  an  accident  by  the  firing  of  a  bag  of  gun-powder, 
that  he  was  thereafter  incapacitated  from  further  service 

'  ill  the  colony.  So  tcrriltly  was  his  flesh  torn  and  burned, 
t!iat,  to  relieve  the  pain,  he  instantly  threw  himself  into 
thi'  I'ivcr,  fVcjin  which  he  was  with  difficulty  rescued.  It 
bring  iinpossil)lc  to  procui'c  tlie  necessary  medical  assist- 

;  anee  for  the  cure  of  so  extensive  an  injury,  he  took  pas- 
sage for  I'lnghind  by  the  fii'st  oppoitunitv,  and  nev(M' again 
ievisite<l  the  colony  he  had  planted  and  supported  with 

;  sneli  siugiihir  devotion,  energ}',  and  courage.  'J'he  fa.te  of 
tlie  tw(;  principal  of  the  Dutch  conspirators  against  his 
life,  is  thus  chronicled:  "But  to  sec  the  justice  of  God 
upon  these  Dutchmen: — Adanx  and  Francis  were  fled 
again  to  Powhatan,  to  whom  they  })romised,  at  the  arri- 
val   of  my  Lord  (La  Warre),  what  wonders  they  wiMild 

'  'h,  would  he  suffer  them  but  to  go  t(j  him.  Put  the 
king  seeing  they  would  be  gone,  replied;  you  that  woulel 
!i;ive  1".'tra3'eel  Captain  Smith  to  me,  will  certainly  be- 
tray me  to  this  great  Lord  for  3-our  peace;  so  caused  his 
men  to  beat  out  their  brains." 

Smith's  departure  was  the  sigmd  for  general  defection 
among  the  Indians.     They  seized  the  boats  of  the  settlers 

'  under  Mai'tin  and  West;  who,  unable  to  keep  their  ground, 
I'cturned  to  Jamestown,  with  the  loss  of  nearly  half  their 
iiH-'ii.     A  })art3"  of  thirty  or  forty,  bound  upon  a  trading 


I  '> 


¥'\ 


1  .r  ■ 

1 

1 


iillP<' 


!   ' 


HI' 


I- 


i  Iff  r  ■' 


I 


t 


d 


I  I 


'*  I 


Ij 


184 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEIlICA. 


cx[)(!(lition,  wus  set  upon  by  l^owliutan  aiul  hi.s  warric^rs, 
.'iiid  all  except  two  were  slain.  Oua  oi'  these,  a  Ijoy,  naincl 
Jleiiry  Spilrnan,  was  pres(!rv(;'l  by  the  intei'vention  n| 
Toeahontas,  j  nil  sent  t(j  hve  anion;^  tlu;  l'atawoiii(k. ,. 
Keibieed    t(j    tin;    '/■re'atest    extn^nitv,    the    J'iiiL^lisl 


h     \Vr 


i)\) 


liua'd  U)  bart(;r  their  very  arms  ibr  provisions,  tliii 


.1  aeii 


in;^  t')  tlu;  power  (^1  the  (Mieiny  m  tlie  same  ratio  that,  t 
weakened  their  own  i'es(;iirees.      I'aniiiu!,   pcistiienc 


Mir 


aii'i 


savaL'^e    invasion    reilnecd 


th 


eolony,   win 


;h    bel 


oi(; 


nniubered  live  hundrcil   inhabitants,  to  aljont  sixty  i 


I  IKS'  !■ 


at)l(;  and   ni 


I   h 


j)less  vvi'etehes.  Within   the  short  space  oC 


months  from  the  tiiia;  that  Smith  se-t  sail.  'J'he  erudr  pi.,- 
dnets  of  the  forest  ibriiHjd  their  })i'ineij)al  food;  "nay,  ,m> 
great  was  (jiir  laniine,"  jjroeeeds  the  nari'ative,  "that  a  Si- 
va^"e  we  slew  and  bui'ied,  the  poorer  si^il  Look  hiin  lii, 
a;iain  and  eat  him,  and  so  (bd  (bvers  (me  another,  1 
and  stewetl  with   I'c^ots  and  heibs:   i\nd 


JOlli  u 


one  amon!/,->t  ll 


rest  (bd  kill  his  wife,  f)ovvdered  h(;r  and  had  eat(;n  part 
her  bclbrc  it  was  known,    ibr  whi(;h  ho  was  exeeuled 


le  vv( 


:11  de 


serve( 


l'])on  the  arrival  of  a  ship,  with  Sir  'i'h(;nias  (jaf 


,es  ai:il 


comj)any,  all  the  unfortiniate  settlers,  abandoning'  th*  ir 
town,  t(jok  ])assage  with  him  f(jr  l'hi<.dand.  ^\t  ihe  v>i\i\- 
meneeiiKMit  (jf  the  voyage,  they  fell  in  with  l.ovd  l.u 
Warre,  wIhj  was  on  his  way  to  Jamestown,  bibigin 
him  large  supj)lies  of  men  and  iie(;essai'ies;  and  all  ret 


Willi 

uriii  ll 


toi''(;ther  to  JaiiKJstf 


)wn. 


J'ortnnately  tin;  Indians  had  mA,  as  yet,  destroyed 


(In; 


foil,  and  t 


u;  iMinih(,'rs  an(l  ( 


:liiei 


eiiev  o 


A  t 


le  whites  wcit 


BO   f; 


r  increased,  that  tiiey  w(;re  "able  to  tani 


the  1 


iirv 


and  treaeheiy  of  the  Savngcs." 

On  the  loth  of  .Jnne  (10 10)  (.'aptain  Argall,  being  en- 
gaged in  a  tiadiiig  exjieibuon  among  the  I'atawotm.'ki  s, 
found  lluire  tin;  young  pris(jner,  Jleniy  Sj)ilniaii,  who  \r.\<\ 
met   with    kind    tieatment-,    and    by   wIkx-i;    iiiLei'veiiliiiU 


ahiuiilanee 

made  of  Sp 

history.     1 

while  on  a  ti 

(Ml  shore  wit 

;iiid,  afte'r  a  s 

ii  ;/rcat  brute 

head  tln'own 

a.'ichi^r  and 

>!aiii    is  unci 

Tliat  the  e< 

ii(;\\dy-a(;'juiri 

.-iillii'ieiitly  aj 

vi'iiged  some 

Net  satislied 

j'lit  t')  death 

iiit')  tiieir  hail 

III   the    ibi 

,«'i!iie  (jjlenccs, 

(■'irii  was  seize 

Sava-cs."       'j 

Was  at  last  est 

jiistified  u[)on 

iil'Dii   the    l']n;j 

t"  soiiif;  chroii 

ojiii,  heard   fr^ 

vdio  had  not  h 

urc,  was  resid 

iiiined   not  to 

hijstag(!,   and  1 

ooyed  her  (;n  1 

treaeherous    J' 

'"the  old  Jew  i 

:'-  I'ocahontas 

■^h'lii  that  the  i 


INDIANS  OF  VliU^IMA, 


~)0 


abiunlaiico  of  corn  \v;i.s  j)r<H:iircil.  l''rc(|U(;iit  montioti  in 
iii;ul(3  of  Spiliiiaii  ill  Hii]>S(Miii('iit  ]ioit.ioiis  (>f  \'ir<fiiiiaii 
liistoiy.  lie  WiL-i  killc'l  l.y  tlii-  I'otoiiiac  Iiidiinis,  in  \(',2-'>, 
while  on  a  trading  (;.\jM(lition  ii])tlic,  ri\fr.  Ilaviii.i^  ^oik; 
oil  slion;  with  smihi;  of  liis  <'oiii|»anv,  smiH'  dilTKMilly  aro>i', 
iiiid,  after  a  short  skirtiii.-h,  lhos(;  on  hoard  the  hoat,  "heard 
;i  ;:i(,'at  hrnto  ainoiiL,^  the  .SiiViif.M.'S  a  .-hore,  and  saw  a  mans 
licad  thrown  (h)wn  the  Inink,  w  her'eiip(;n  they  vveighed 
.'tiicher  and  relnrned  honic  hut  how  lie  was  Knrurise<l  or 
.'-!;iiii    is  unei'ilain." 

T!i;i,t  the  ('olonirts  were  not  slow  in  making  use  of  their 
iiC\vI_v-ae'|iiireil  jtowcr  (»ver  the  natives  in  their  vie'inity, 
.-iiilli'iriitly  aj)])('ars  I'roni  the  iiianner  in  wliieli  tiiey  re- 
viigi'd  some  injuries  received  from  those  of  I'asjialiegh. 
Not  satislied  uilji  hiiming  their  town,  they  dejiljerafdy 
put  to  death  tlio  ([iie'eii  and  her  ehildrcjii,  who  had  fallen 
int')  their  haiids. 

ill  the  Ibllowing  year  the  Apjxjinatuck  Indian?,,  f()r 
,-"!ai;  (jlfenees,  W(.'r(;  driven  from  their  homes,  and  tlu'ir 
oirii  was  seized,  "without  tlie  Kjss  of  any  exee[,t  some  few 
."•jtvi.gcs."  The  manner  in  which  jieacefid  intercourse 
u;is  ;it  last  established  with  Pmvhatan,  however  it  mav  Ik; 
jii.-tilied  u|ioii  the  plea  of  necessity,  reflects  but  little  credit 
nj'oii  the  I'aiglish.  Ar;;;.ill,  in  the  year  iOL.'J,  (aceordin-i 
te  <oine  chroniclei's,)  while  up  the  J'otomac  in  seaivh  of 
foiii,  heard  from  the  sachem  .Jajia/.aws  that  l*(jcahonta<, 
\' lie  had  not  been  seen  at  .lam(\«t<jwii  since  Smith's  dej)art- 
ure,  was  rc'sidiiig  anK)ng  his  peojile.  The  ca])tain  deter- 
tiiiiied  not  to  lose  the  oj)j;)ortiinity  to  secure  so  valuahli-  a 
hostage,  and  having,  by  the;  assistance  of  Japa/aws,  de- 
coyed hei-  (jii  Ijoard  his  shi]),  he  made  her  prisoner.  The 
trcaeherons  J\)tomac  sachem  [jretended  great  distress; 
''tlie  old  Jew  and  his  wife  b(,'gaii  to  howl  and  cry  as  liist 
:i-  Pocahontas,"  but  ajipeared  j)aei(ied  wIk'Ii  Argall  told 
tlniii  that  the  jiiiiii.'ess  sli(juld  b(;  W('ll  treat<;d,  and  restoivd 


I    "  i 


1 

> 

■r?-t 


m- 


;^T 


i  t  i 


I'.! 


f    I: 


(1  -  i"i 


n 


U  ■  i  :  'i 


180 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMKliK'A. 


as  sofHi  !is  I'owliataii  would  muk"!  restitution  of  tlie  "•oui!-. 
he  liad  jxirloiiicd  and  pluiidc^red  from  tin;  colony. 

When  tin;  cnipi'ror  li-arncd  of  tliis  transaction,  tlio 
"iniwclconic  news  mucli  ti'onl)I(;d  liim,  l)ecausc  he  luvcl 
both  his  duu;^hter  and  the  English  eoinniodities  well;" 
and  he  left  J'oeahontas  in  the  eneniies'  hands  for  smciiil 
months  b(dbre  lie  deig-ned  to  ])ay  the  least  attenti(ju  |(; 
theii'  d  Miiands.  It  has  been  sup])(-sed,  and  with  ^ivat 
show  ol'  J'cascjn,  that  the  kinddiearted  girl  had  lost  fiivni 
witli  her  hither  \>y  her  sympathy  with  the  Knglish,  and  h^; 
cndeavoi'ing  U)  save  them  at  the  time  of  the  mjissaercs 
which  i)reeeded  the  last  arrival;  and  that  this  was  tlio 
cause  (jf  her  retirement  to  Potomac. 

When  I'owhataii  at  last  consented  to  treat,  his  ofilr.s 
were  entirely  unsatisj'actoiy  to  the  Knglish,  and  an(jtln.'r 
long  interval  elapsed  without  any  communication  from 
him.  Ah'antime,  an  ai'di'Ut  attachment  had  sprung  iiji 
between  Tcxiahonlas  and  a  young  Englishman  oi'  the  col- 

ony  named -hjhn  Kolfe,  "an  honest  gentleman  and  of  g i 

behaviour."  When  it  was  at  last  concluded  to  use;  o]mh 
force  to  I'educe  Powhatan  to  compliance  with  the  l']ngli.>li 
requisitions,  u  large  iorce  ]>roceeded  to  the  chief's  iu'iul- 
quarters,  by  water,  taking  the  princess  with  them.  Tho  In- 
dians exhibited  an  insolent  and  warlike  demeanor,  but  wne 
easily  })ut  to  flight,  and  their  town  was  burned.  I'ursuiim 
their  advantage,  tlie  inyading  party  proceeded  up  the  river 
t(j  Miitchot,  wliei-e,  a  truce  being  agreed  upon,  two  of  Tow- 
hatan's  sons  came  to  yisit  their  sister,  and,  oycrj(ned  M 
finding  her  well  and  kindly  cared  for,  promised  their  hfst 
endeavors  to  bring  matters  to  a  peaceful  issue.  Jiolfe,  wiili 
one  companion,  had  an  interview  with  Opcchancanoiigli, 
who  also  declared  that  he  would  strive  to  })ersuadc  the 
king  to  compliance  with  tlic  English  proposals. 

Wiieu  iVnvhatan  heai'd  of  the  proposed  marriage  ofliia 
daughter,   his  anger  and   resentment  towards  the  whiter 


ilM 


INDIAN'S  OF  VIUniNLA 


1^7 


soi'Mie<l  to  bo  aj)[)Ciist'(l.  ITi;  st'iit  liis  Lrotlier  ()|)ilc*j)ai);in, 
and  otlici'.s  ol' his  I'ainil}',  to  \\itiicss  the  coreiuoiiy,  ami 
iv;i(hlv  pci'iiiitted  the  ()1<J  terms  dC  tiadc  ami  iiitimarv  to 
111'  ri'iiewi'th  Pocahontas  ami  Jtthu  Jiolfu  Wei'c  married 
iiljoul  the  tirst  of  April,   1<I1.'). 

Tlii;  Chiekuhoiniiiies,  hearii),L;  that  Powhatan  was  in 
\i\v'\io  with  the  colonv,  felt  little  inclined  to  he  upon  ill- 
tiTins  with  s(j  2>o\vci'ful  a  conl'edei'acy ;  and,  having  made 
ii'lvaiiees,  a  treaty  of  fi'ien<lship  was  entered  into  with  all 
line  forms  and  ceremonies. 

Not  contented  with  the  security  against  I'cnvhatan's 
lio.stility  which  the  })ossession  of  his  heloved  daughtei'  af- 
fiinled,  the  cohjnial  gtn'ernoi',  Sir  Thomas  I)al(\  sought 
yet  aiiotlier  hostage  IVom  the  king;  and  in  1011  sent  John 
I!c!fc  and  lialpli  ilanioi'  to  his  coiwt  fcjr  this  ]»ui'Jm^-;c. 

The  aged  cliief  received  them  with  coui'tesy  and  kind- 
iicss,  and  aj»peared  ])leased  and  gratified  at  the  accounts 
whicli  they  gave  him  of  Pocahontas'  satisfaction  witli  her 
I, c\v  alliance,  and  the  religi(jn  and  customs  of  the  Mnglish. 
When  the  purpose  of  the  mission  was  made  known  to 
]iiiii,  which  was  no  other  than  the  obtaining  ])osscssiwii  (jf 
youngest   daughter,   uj)on   })retext  of  mai'i'ving   her 

bly,  Powhatan  gravely  I'cfused  compliance.  Me  would 
iit'Vrr  trust  himself,  ho  said,  in  the  {)<jwer  (jf  tlie  i'higlish; 
;iii(l  therefore,  if  he  should  send  away  his  child,  whom  he 
ii'iw  loved  as  his  life,  and  Ijcyoiid  all  his  other  mniu'rous 
uir^|)ring,  it  would  be  never  again  U)  behold  her.  "My 
l)!t)tlier,"  ho  added,  "hath  a  Jjledge,  one  of  ni}'  daughters, 
v>liicli  so  long  as  she  lives  shall  bo  sufficient,  when  she 
liios  he  shall  have  another:  1  hold  it  not  a  brt)th(M-ly  part 
to  desire  to  bereave  nio  of  my  two  children  at  onc<'." 

Pocahontas  was  carefully  educated  in  the  Chrit.  ian 
rt'liyitjn,  wjiich  she  appeared  sincerely  to  embrace.  She 
flourished  the  wai'inest  alfeetion  for  her  husband, — upon 
lii.s  pai'l  fiiihfully  i-eturned;  and  what  with  these  new  ties, 


II. s 
llu 


\4\ 


n  ] 


'W* 


I    : 


I: 


■if  y{M 


I'r; .  n 


'  i  fl'l 


*  ? 


1 

1 

y 
!  P 

i 

■i 

i 


■     iir.    1, 


11 
■|     •■ 

'*     I 


i,|i5i:f 


188 


INDIAN    UACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


aiitl  tlio  ctilurjt^od  i<lciis  altctultuit  uixjn  education  and  inter 
cuurso  with  intclli^'cMit  KiiroiKiaiis,  .she  Hcciriod  ctitiivlyto 
lose  all  dcsirt;  <>!'  ass(j(-ialiii;^  witii  li(!r  own  [)('0])1(', 


U 


OIK! 


a  III 


I    1 


lis  wilt!   sal 


k'(l    ior   Kn'daiid    iu    10 HI,  anil 


rcac.licd   IMyriiouUi  on  thi3   I'itli  of  .luiic.      Great  intcrot 


w 


as  excited    by  their  iii'i'ival,   hoth  at  court  ai 


Ml   aiiKjii'' 


o 


iiiiiiiv  |teo|ile  of  distinction.     ('a])tain  Smith  prcjia 


rcil  ill! 


a<u 


rcss  to  the  ([Uecn   iipi) 


n   this  occasion,  settiii'j;  fnith 


(iKiint,  liiit   tonchin,^   lan^ua,Lfe,  th(;   ('(Jiitinucxl    1 
tiid  \;duahl(3  sei'vices  ;  c(;e 


ivIIkIIiCnS 


ivcd  by  liiniself  and  the  c(j1 


•JllV 


at 


a  me 


i'vou 


ocaiio 


ntas. 


ill 


eoniinen 


ded  1 


icr  t<» 


Kill, 


roj'al  mistress,  as  "the  first  (.'hi'istian  ever  of  that  Nat 
the  lirst  Vii'^-inian  ev(;r  s[)ake  English,  or  had  a  child  in 
marriagij  by  an  J'lnglishman,  a  matter  surely  worthy  a 
Princes  understanding." 

When  Smitii  met  with  his  preserver  at  T'ranHijrd,  wIhtl; 
sli(!  was  staying  wilh  hei-  husband  aCler  her  arrival  in  i'in^^- 
land,  his  demeanor  did  not  at  lirst  satisfy  her.  Mtiiinctu,', 
and  the  restraints  of  Mnglisli  ciisloms,  })revented  hini  [ 
liaps  from  making  sueh  demcjiistration  oC  afl'ectioi 


(T- 


1  as 


had  expceted  from  her  adopted  Hither.  "After  a  niod^t 
salutation,"  he  says,  "without  any  word,  she  turned  her- 
self about,  obscured  her  face  as  n(jt  .seeming  well  conteiiU'il; 
and  in  that  humour,  Ikt  husband,  with  divers  others,  wv. 
all  left  her  two  or  three  hours,  re[)cnting  myself  to  Ikivl' 
wi'it  she    eould  speak    J'^nglish." 

'i'his  i»i'[U(',  oi'  wliatever  emotion  it  may  have  been,  soeii 
passed  oil",  and  she  began  to  converse  freely  upon  old  liiues 
and  S(;en(\s.  She  said  .«he  would  always  call  Smith  lier 
fatJH'r,  that  he  should  call  her  child,  and  ever  con.sider  lior 
as  his  "Countryman."  It  seems  that  .she  had  been  tuld 
that  he  was  dead,  and  only  learned  the  truth  on  reacliiiii,^ 
Knghind.  ]*()whatan  had  been  anxious  to  get  intelligence 
i)f  his  old  rival,  and  .sp(,'eially  commissioned  an  Indiiui  "f 
Lis  council,  named  Uttomatomakkin,  whom  he  sent  over 


t<i  biigiaiid,  to 
li.sliiueirs  (jtjd, 
iusccrtain  the  m 


iii,, , 


f'   t 


i"'l 


,    I'V  ^  iU    I 


* :  i 


INUlANri  OF  VJli<JlMA. 


18'J 


t'l  Kiighiiid,  to  (iiid  (Jilt  Capluiii  Smith;  to  st;c  the  I'-iig- 
li.Mimt-'ii's  <i(;(l,  their  •juccii,  ;ui<l  their  jiriiicc;  uiiil  U) 
;isccrtiiiii  the  iiuiiiher  ol'  tiit;  tjoimtry's  iiihahitaiits. 

Tliiri  hi.-t  direction  lie  eudoavurcd  to  perlbrm  by  earryiii;L,' 
asliclv  with  him,  and  making  a  iioteh  for  every  man  he 
s;i\\',  "Ijut  lie  was  (|uiei:ly  weary  oi"  that  task." 

C;i[)tain  Argall,  ll(»Ile,  and  others,  having  beer  l"Lii-iiish(.'d 
witli  an  oullit  for  \'ii'ginia,  in  HUT,  rueaiiontas  (known 
;t>  Picbeeca,  sinee  her  l)aptism  and  eonvei'sion,)  was  about 
III  li'visil  her  native  country,  but  was  taken  siid<lenly  ill, 
;ii!(l  (lied  at  (iravesend.  "She  made  not  nujresoriDW  l()r 
iicr  iinex])ected  death,  than  joy  io  tin;  beholdei's  to  lu^ar 
iiiid  see  her  inid^e  S(j  religious  ami  godly  an  end."  >h(! 
l.'l't  one  child,  Tliomas  itolfi',  who  allei'wards  resided  in 
ViiLMiiiii,  and  from  whom  manv  lamilies  in  that  state  still 
tnicc  their  origin.  'J'la;  celebrated  John  Kandolpli,  ol' 
lioaiioke,  was  one  of  his  descendants. 

At  Jamestown,  Argall  found  matters  in  a  bad  state. 
Litik'  w!is  attended  to  but  the  raising  of  tobacco,  which 
Was  seen  growing  in  tlu;  streets  and  market  place.  'J'iie 
savagt.'S  had  becona;  b(.>ld  and  familiar,  "as  iVeiiucnt  in  the 
Colonists"  houses  as  themselves,  whereby  they  were  uci'ome 
expert  in  the  English  arms."  ^i'hey  broke  out,  in  some 
ihstaiici'S,  into  open  murder  and  robber}^,  but  the  old  chief 
Opccliancanough,  \vhen  redress  was  demanded,  disclaimed 
all  knowledge  of  or  ])articipation  in  the  outrages. 

The  venerable  I'owhatan  died  in  April,  of  the  year 
h'lSj  and  was  succeeded  by  his  see(Mid  brother  Itcjpatin. 
The  new  king,  as  well  as  the  formidable  O])eehaneanon;/h, 
K'cnied  desirous  of  continuing  at  peace  with  the  wliil.es. 
I'l'Sjuto  his  protestations  of  lriendshi[),  and  renewid  (.)f 
Solemn  leagues  and  covenants,  the  old  king  of  Pamaunlcy 
was  still  held  in  sore  su:-picion,  and  it  is  })lain  that  Indian 
power,  if  roused  against  the  colony,  was  growing  formida- 
ble. The  hkstorian  expresses  liis  aina/ement  "  to  understand 


^•V  I 

1     i 

1       ■;  ._ 

1 

?l 

t:  u 

! 

r'\ 

■m 

■'j*'"^ 

1 

i 

f 

I 

' 

'r 

i 

'mi 

!«■ 

'!"  , 

\  i 

it 

'  j 

?'■ 


I  '  ■)■■ 


lUli^ 


■t' 

ri 


100 


INDIAN'  KACKS  Of  AMKUICA. 


(    Ji: 


i    ' 


how  .straii^fcly  tlu;  Sava^^cs  had  been  tau^dit  thr  use  of 
ai'iiis,  ami  iiiiploycd  in  hmiliii;^;  and  Cuwliiig  witli  (dir  low!- 
iii,L(  piccL'S,  and  (nil*  men  ruotinj^  in  ihr  ^.ironnil  aliout 
Tohacco  like  Swirio." 

-lohn  I'oiy,  secretary  of  the  colony,  nndi'i'touk  a  settle 
nicnt  (^n  tlie  eastern  shore  in  1(521.  Ts'ainenacus,  kin;L,'(i 
I'.T.Ntnxent,  visited  him,  and  expressed  his  good-will  iii 
style  eharactoristic  of  Indi;in  melaiilior.  Dai'in-r  his  lui  ,l^!, 
says  I'ory,  he  aske(l  "iC  we  saw  an}-  delorinily  njion  ii, 
wi!  told  him,  No;  No  more,  said  he,  is  the;  insiik',  hut  as 
sincere  and  ])ure;  thereH^ro  (-onie  I'reely  to  my  Coutitry 
and  welcome."  The  Knglish  were  accompanied  hy  'riiotnus 
Savau^c  as  interpreter;  a  youth  wdio,  sixteen  y(>ai'.s  before, 
had  been  left  with  I'owdiatan  for  the  jiurp(jse  of  aenuiiiii" 
the  In(bau  huiguage,  and  wlu)  afterwards  ])roved  of  great 
service  to  the  ccjlony. 

When  the  ])arty  readied  the  dwelling  of  Namenae.ns 
and  his  brother  Warnatiuto,  they  were  most  hosjiitahly 
received  and  entertained.  l>oiled  oj-sters  were  set  before 
them  in  a  "brass  Kettle  as  bright  without  as  witliiii," 
and  the  alliance  was  cemented  by  exchange  of  j)resonts 
Wamanato  promised  to  keej)  wdiat  he  had  received 
"wdiilst  he  lived,  and  bury  them  with  him  being  dead, 
He  uuich  wondered  at  our  liible,"  ])roceeds  Pory,  "l.Hit 
much  more  to  hear  it  was  the  law  of  our  God,  and  tiie 
first  Chapter  of  Oenesia  cxj)ounded  of  Adam  and  Kve, 
and  simple  marriage;  to  wliich  he  re])lied  he  was  liko 
Adam  in  one  thing,  for  he  never  had  but  one  wife  at 
once;  but  he,  as  all  the  rest,  seemed  more  willing  of  other 
discourses  they  better  understood." 


THE  VIIKUN'IA 


•  ■  (  /  ^  J         1 


"i  I 


vl  ■ 


INDIANS  UF  VlU'ilMA. 


CIIAI'TKK    V. 


I'Jl 


THE  VIKOINIA  MASSAt-MlKS  OF   Hi'J'J.   AM)  or    Kill    (oK    Ki'll)  — 
DKA'III  Ol'  nl'KcllAMAMil  i;ll. 

TilK  Spring  of  lii'J2  w;is  iiH'inoiiiliK'  (i)i-  !i  deep-laid  and 
jiartiallj-successlul  plot,  attiilnitcd  in  no  small  nifayiiie  to 
tilt!  contrivance  of  Opi'cluiiK-aiion'jli,  for  thf  extiTiiiina- 
tionoftlio  I'-n^dish  (,'f>lf»nv.  'riicscttlcrs  had  cniiic  to  lonjc 
ii|ii)n  tli(!  Indians  with  a  mixluK?  of  condcsct'iision  and 
■ildiiitt;  ihcy  adniithMl  them  I'lvrlv  into  thcii'  houses; 
>iilii  red  thrill  to  a('i[uire  tiu;  use  iA'  l'!n;^li.sli  weapons;  and 
t'lok  h'tle  or  no  jU'ecaiUions  a;^;ainst  an  outhreiik-.  'J'iie 
lihintations  and  villa.ncs  of  the  whites  wei'e  widdv  sepa- 
ratfd  and  iil-})rotL'et.ed,  oll'erin;,;-  an  easy  op[)oi'tunitj  for  a 
smMcn  and  cucerted  attack. 

Xo  suspicions  wliatcver  wci'c  cnti'rtained  of  ariv  liostih; 
iiiti'iit  ii])on  the  })art  of  the  savaires  until  just  In  f  u-e  tlu; 
massacre  ccnnmcnced,  ami  then  thei'e  was  neither  tinie  nor 
"j'l"irtunit\'  to  convey  the  intelligence  to  tlu"  distant  si't- 
ilfinciitrf.  'i'hc  ])]ot  was  so  arrans^cd  that  n])on  a  day 
:'plinintcd,  the  '2'2d  of  March,  the  Indians  spread  theiu- 
M'lvcs  throughout  tlu;  settlements,  and,  going  into  the 
liDUscs,  or  Joining  the  laborers  in  the  lii'lil,  on  pi-etence  of 
trailc,  took  the  iirst  <Ji)portunity  to  kill  those  with  whom 
liny  were  ccjinmunicating,  by  a  blow  from  behind. 

Xo  less  than  three  hundred  and  fc^rty -seven  of  the  J'lng- 
iisli  {)erished,  the  most  extensive  massacre  at  any  oni;  sjiot 
l"'iiig  that  in  Martin's  Hundred,  only  seven  miles  fiom 
I  Jamestown.  The  savages  spared  not  their  Ijest  friends, 
;  with  whom  they  had  held  amicalde  intercourse  f(jr  yeai's, 
;  I'lit  availed  themselves  of  that  very  intinuicy  to  carry  out 
I  their  bloody  design  Avilh  the  greater  secrecy  and  inipu- 
j  nity.  Onconly  showed  signs  of  relenting.  '"J'he  slau^h- 
I  tor  hud  been  universal    if  God  had  mjt  i)ut  it   int«j  the 

I 

i 


li:-y.it« '  :|.(l 


'  ' 

^ 

1 
! 

i 

'     , 

.('< 

I         .1 


't  ''t 


It' 


:   Si' 


:^ 


^  ' 


II 


11' 


1S)2 


INI»IAN    KACKS  (»K  AMKUl^A. 


Ill-art  of  ;iii  Iiidiai),  wliu  lyin;^^  in  tlic  lioiisc  of  ono  I'acc 
was  iif;jv(l  liv  ;iiMiilir|'  Iiidinii,  his  lii'otlici',  that  lav  with 
him  thu  iii;^ht  hcliuc,  to  kill  I'in'ci  as  he  siioiiM  do  I'criv, 
w  hirh  Was  his  iVii'iid,  l)riii!.';soi'('iiiiiia)idcd  IVoiii  tlicir  kiipj. ' 

Instead  t'l'  coinpl viiii;',  he  msi',  and  made  known  \n  lii.j 
host  the  )>lan  of  llic  next  dav's  iittai-k.  I'act;  canii'd  ih" 
intcllii^oncc;  to  .lanit'st«iwu  with  the  uliiiost  (.'.\|icdiii,,ii, 
and  the  (Mnlidii  was  sju'cad  as  Car  as  |)ossil»lr.  W  hdiviT 
thf  Imlians  saw  the  Mn'jlish  upon  their  ^oianl,  no  altcmpi 
was  made  iijton  them,  even  where  tlii're  was  ji  ^^ro,-,  ijis- 
parity  in  numhei's.  One  of  Smith's  old  i:;uard,  Natlianicl 
Caiisie,  alter  reeei\iiin'  a  severe  wound,  sei/ed  an  axe,  imhI 
put  tliosi'  to  tli'j^ht  who  had  set  upon  liim.  in  ainillur 
instance,  two  men  repclle*!  the  a.tlack  ol'  sixty  sava.ues, 
and  a  Mr.  Haldwin,  at  W'aira.'^kovaek',  tk-fended  his  lieusr 
and  its  inmates  siu'^le  handeil,  the  I  ndians  bein^L""  unwilling' 
to  staml  his  liic.  Women,  ehildrcu,  and  unarmc(l  nn'ii;  ill 
who  coidd  be  taken  unawai'es,  were  murdereij,  and  their 
Itodii's  haeked  and  mutilated.  Xo  tie  of  friendship  dP 
n>rmer  favor  [Moved  strong  enou,i;h  to  stay  the  hand  of  the 
remoi'selessloe.  A  Mr.  Thoi'p,  wdio  had  shcnvn  eveiy  kinil- 
n(>ss  to  tlu'  Indians,  and  es])eeially  to  the  kin,!/,  was  one 
of  the.  victims,  his  "dead  corps  bein,^'  ubuscd  with  such 
sj)ij,dit  and  scorn  as  is  nnlit  tube  heard  witii  civil  oars."' 
lie  had  lorni(>rly  built  a  conveni(Mit  liousc  for  the  sacliciii, 
"aftei'thc  l''n;jlisli  fashion,  in  which  he  took  such  ])leasm't', 
esp(HMally  in  the  lock  a)id  kty,  which  he  so  admiio(l:us 
loi'kinjr  and  unloekinji;  his  door  a  huiidre(l  times  a  day, 
he  thou'rht  no  devii-e  in  tlu;  world  com))arable  to  it." 

It  was  sn])p*ose(l  that  the  motive  wdiieh  operated  most 
forcibly  ii]>on  OjKH'haneanini^h,  in  urj.dng  him  to  these 
enormities,  was  the  death  of  Nemattanow,  one  of  his  favor- 
ites, styled  "Jack  of  the  Feather,  because  he  comnioiilv 
wa.s  most  strangely  adorned  with  them."  This  Indian  Wii-! 
sliot,  about  a  fortnight  before  the  massacre,  for  the  iniu- 


ni  I'cvenKC 


INIHANS  OF  VIUCIMA. 


ii)a 


(Icrof  II  mall  iiiuucil  Mor;^!in,  whom  lu;  enticed  froir.  li<»iiio 
(,ii  jirctoiK'C  of  trade. 

Liltlo  uetl\e  ell'orts  wen^  made  to  revenue  tho  U|>ii>ing 
,it' tlu;  Indians.  Al'h'P  llio  bloody  day  in  Maicli,  \i<'  ':>'  • 
(Mil  I'lij^'ai/eliient  look  Jilaec  btiwrv'U  the  I'!n;.:Ii.-h  and  iho 
sivai/es  until  thi;  ensuing'  autanui,  when  an  ai'niy  oi'lhiec 
liuiuhed  e(ih)nifit.s  iniirclicd  to  iwinilsanuind,  and  hiid  wasi  m 
t!i"  country. 

The  bitterest  animosity  j)rcviiilcd  for  many  ycar.s  bi'- 
twi'cii  tlie  riyal  chiimaiits  to  the  country — the  Intlians  and 
the  pale  faces,  who  wcro  supitlanting  them,  insidiously,  ( »r  by 
uj'Cii  warfare.  'I'lie  old  cliicf  Opcchancanoui^h  remained 
lung  a  thorn  in  the  sides  of  the  colonists;  and,  a.s  late  as 
liiU,  nine  years  after  the  conclusion  of  a  settled  |ieace,  ho 
urguni/cdacons])iracy,  which  n'snlt<'d  in  the  destruction  c^f 
rvcii  a  larger  number  of  the  whites  than  fell  in  the  nuis- 
.siciv  v(  1()22.  'i'he  time  of  the  second  u]»rising  is  li\cd, 
Iiyhuinc,  thrco  years  later  than  tlic  date  abosc  meniioned. 

After  that  event,  the  war  was  |iursucd  with  the  enert^y 
iliut  the  dangerous  circumst'inces  of  the  colcjny  jciiuired; 
and  the  aged  chief,  falling  into  the  liands  of  the  i'^nglish, 
wii.s  curried  captive  to  Jamestown,  iiegiird  to  his  inlirnd- 
tics  and  age  restrained  the  authorities  from  showing  him 
indignity  or  unkindness,  but  he  was  shoi  by  a  private  sol- 
dier, in  I'cvenge,  as  is  sup{)osed,  for  some  former  injury. 
Allliough  so  enfeebled  by  the  weight  of  years  as  to  be 
utterly  helpless,  and  unable  even  to  raise  his  eyelids  with- 
out lussistance,  the  venerable  chief  still  maintained  his  dig- 
nity and  hrmness;  and,  just  before  his  death,  rebuked 
herkley,  the  governor,  for  suffering  his  people  to  crowd 
around  and  gaze  upon  hira. 

It  is  said,  by  some  historians,  that  he  was  not  a  native 
of  Virginia,  but  that  he  was  reputed  among  his  subjects 
and  the  neighboring  tribes,  to  have  been  formerly  a  king 
over  a  nation  far  to  the  south-west. 


._J 


r 


i  * 

r" 


I'Jl  JXIH.W    IIACi'.-;   OF      MKIUCA. 


CIIAI'TKR   W. 


KMiTit's  ,\(;'.or;,\T  fX'  thk   .-.cMiiKiis.  Ani;Ai!AN';E,  anii  HAiiirs  at 

'I  UK    INIHA.NS. 


«      *     *     ♦     To  tlic.  (ii.r.r 
Ttm  rcfi  rriMii  slowly  dr.ij^'s  tlir-  cnorrnoiiH  licar, 
Si.'iin  in  llic  clicstnut,  tlii('ki't,  or  IliiiLfH  doun 
'I'JK!  fleer  IVorii   his  Hlronc  slionlderM." — I'lsVAST. 

ViiifWNiA,  Y'A'.c,  (!Vf;ry  otlicr  divi.-ior)  of  the  ojistcr  i  co.'i.-i 
of  Noilli    A  rrictic.'i,    wjis    Ij'it   tli'iily    iiili;i.lMt.ci|   w(i<'ii  t 
wliil.c  H(:t.f,l(;rn<'iits    first,  f;ornrri(;nci''J.      Ah  linntin;.'; 
tlic  (:hi<;f  rri'';iris  of  sultsistcncf;    to    lli*;    iiiitivcs    ilur 


IliC 


lOVUif 


111' 


(',orisi'U-r;it)M'    noi'tion   o 


til';  yf:;ir,  it,  w;ih  ini))r;i''tic;il;l''  t-.r 
tJi'Tri  t,o  liv;  (•I'X-J.rly  (:oii;/rc;/;it.<'il.  '\']\<:yi:  wn;  <'.i)]i\\)\di'i\  h, 
]>(',  wittiin  rixty  miles  of  t.lic  scltlcincnt,  of  ,I;iin(>1,o\vn,  S'liin- 
livo  t.lionsaii'l    liiili;i,ns,  (>{'  whom    not,  (|nit<;  onc.-t,hiii|  v.'r.; 


I      men   ,s':rvi(',c;ii)|(;  in  vvur, 


ik;  i< 


nv<T  portior 


1  ol    tin;  I  o. 


liJitan  or  .himcs'  livcr',  hdow  tho  fills,  piLSScl  ihroii^'li  !!,'■ 
country  <>i'\  Ik;  '/ri'id  \<\u</  ;iii<l  trilx;  who  h'H't;  t  Ik;  Kiimc  ii;ui,i  : 
;i,mon;_';  tJio  rrioiirit;iinM  ;it,  its  source  dwelt,  t.hc  Monitc'i!,-. 
'J"he  Kre.'it,  nutions  wen;  sul)-<li  vidcd  into  ;i  numher  of  sinnil- 
(;r  trihcH,  (•:\(:\\  snhieef,  to  its  ovsTi  Wcrowiiiice,  <>r  kiw'. 


'i'hc  st.;itnr(;  ;ui'l   j/ener;il   ii.j)|)eiirarK;c  of  (lilfcrcnt, 
.•;nion;r  them  |ireseiitc(|  consiflcrahlc,  (lis(;n;j>urK;y.     Of 
S.'i.HfjUcs;ih;irioeks,  Smith  s.'iys:   "Such  f.'rf^at  and  w'e|l-| 


mc 


)0 


rtionefl    men   ;ir(;  seMhun     seen, 


for  t,: 


icy  sccme'l  ii 


lire 


{.dants  to  the,   I'liiLdi.-h.  -  I'or  tlie,ir   L'ino;iii 
heseem     llK;ir  [iro[)()rt,io:is,  soiindino;  from  1,li 


in    ii.   van 


It."      Oik;   of  tl 


leir  cJiK 


:f    W 


erowaric 


,  V  w>-\ 


f>i' 


1.   ,  .uri'i 


three-'jii;irte|- 


H  oi    ;i. 


1  the  rest, 


ol    Ins    III 


yiird   .'ilioiit,  t.jie,  c;ilf  of  his    ■.■  /,  '' 
nhs  so  answerahlc  to-  t.li;it  propnrt 


\'lU, 


thilt,    he    sectiK;d    the,    f'()odlicSt,    ni.'iri   we  ever    h<'he 


h;iir,    the,    one 


SKJe 


1-    loriL'    the,  fjtfier  shore  close,  v.'itli 


a  riMffc  like  a  cock  s  comu. 


These  Jieop 

jiave  0';iss;ic, 
Iiian'.'-'  he;Kl  ;_' 
of  the  liear 
|,ai);.dii'_'  dow 
hind  him,  ;in' 
ii;id  the  head 
hi-  tohaceo  p 
carved  with  a 
f/reat  en<l,  snf 


tnhes,    whieji 

'ii.-,-iiiiilar  in  t 
i;i''ate  hy  iiitc 
The  clothin 
of  skins,  drcs; 
the  ."eason.  ( 
and  thieJcl  V  co 
like  a  natural  j 
themselves  \vi 
'■'/vii  from  <jT. 
'.'iilly  arnon;/  tl 
]'  )';orK',  mi.\ed 
t'  sa'i.'-fy  thei 
hiidy.  lie  wa 
stf'fus   \(>  h(;ho 

J'e||f|;|t|ts    of   Cf 

"SoiiK'  ol'  thei 
aiid  yellfAV  col 
wliif;h,  f-rawlii 
oftf'iitirncs  won 
I'iieir  \v\'/\v',i. 
h'lt  sniol;  V,  am 


rz^ 


INOIANH  OF  VII'JWMA. 


lOo 


Tli'',M''  |ico|)l';  wcH'.  'IrcHscfl  in  bear  ;iMfl  wolf-Hkins:  "sorrio 
liiivc  r!iss!ic,k.s  iii!i(|<;  of  licjir's  Im'.'kIh  jind  sl%iriH,  that,  a 
man'.'-'  )i''ii'l  ^/o'-s  tliron^^li  tlio  HkiriH  neck,  ;in'i  \\\(;  cuts 
f/f  till'  lifiir  liisti'iici]  to  hi.,  shou!(h'|-.-,  th<;  no.-':  nii'l  tfrth 
\,:\]f/\\\^J  down  his  hri';i.-.t,  anotliiT  l^'ur's  fii'-f  split,  hc- 
|,';:i'|  him,  an'l  at,  thf  rn'!  <A'  the  no-c  liiin;.';  a  p;i\v.-  On*' 
li;i(l  th';  h<'a'l  of  a  Wolf  lian;iin;.^  in  a,  chain  for  a  jewfl; 
hi-  Ui\iii('c<)  })i|)';  thi<'c  (|iiart''rH  of  a  jiii'l  Ion;',  prettily 
cirv'l  with  a  Uii'l,  a  hcc.-,  or  sonn-  such  device  at  the 
(/rc.'it  end,  Hiiflielctit  \.<)  heat  ont  ones  hrairis." 

loii-thcr  to  theSonth,  up')!!  the  K'apjiahanock,  and  other 
ii'ljiiccnt  rivrs,  dwelt  an  inferior  p''<>pl<',  of  small  stature. 
Till'  Monaeaiis,  .Mannahoeks,  Sas'|U''sahanocks,  and  other 
tnh*-',  which  cnvironc(l  the,  I'owhatan  country,  were  so 
(!i.-,siiiiilar  in  their  Uiu</u;i'/i-,  that  they  coidd  only  eoinrnu- 
!::",'itc  hy  in1erj)retation. 

Tlic  clothin;/  of  all  these,  Indians  consisted  f)riricipal!y 
of. skins,  dre.ssi'fl  with  or  without  tlie  hair,  aecordinr.'  to 
till' ,-cason.  Oc(;asiona,lly  would  he  seen  a  mantle  neatly 
;in'l  thicldv  covered  with  feathers,  so  fastencf]  as  t<^)  a[)pe.'ir 
like  a  natural  ;.o-owth;  ])Ut  mariy  f)f  the,  savages  coritcnited 
tli-'riiselvcH  with  very  sirnpl  and  primitiv*;  hahilim<:nts, 
'.  MVen  from  yrassand  leaves.  'I'attooin;,';  was  (common,  e.spe- 
'•i  tllv  .'irnon;.'' ttic,  women,  arid  the,  red  powdered  root  of  the 
jMC'ine,  mi.\ed  with  oil  to  the  consistency  of  paint,  served 
t)  .satisfv  their  harhari';  taste  for  fanc,ifully  coloring  the 
h'uly.  lie  was  "the  most  (rallarit  who  was  the  most  mon- 
strous to  hehold."  Their  (;arH  we,re  gcneraJly  hored,  and 
j'fiidarits  (A'  (jopper  and  otlir-r  orriamerit,s  were  att.ac.he,(|. 
"Setiie  (){'  the,ir  men  wear  in  tlio.sc;  lioles  a  small  i/rncu 
;iii'l  yellow  coloured  Hiiakf!,  n(;ar  half  a  yard  in  length, 
whieh,  crawling  and  k'if)j)ing  lierself  about  hin  neck, 
of'f'ntimcs  would  familiarly  kiss    his  li[)S." 

I'licir  wigwams  were  much  after  the  usual  fiushion,  warrn, 
h'lt  stnolcy,  and  stood  in  the  mi<lstof  the,  ])laritin;Mrround^ 


1         'i 


I    '. 


.       1 


iti 

Villi  '  ■  ■ 


%  i,r 


'i-ej.  it 

*Jiiyl 


1:^  ^' 


1 

r 

!e' 

■>,Jii 

r 

i'i. 


1  .'I: 


ij    I  ■.' 


^:!  :i    i      '' 


1 

J 

) 

.m' 

'1 

t 

i 
i 

M 

ii 

r 

'1 

Hi: 

.f^ 

'  *,i 

1 

-  ■•'    ♦  ,  ■ 

;       -i 

y'i:i 

II'M' 

I 

iff;,. 

^iv  ^^ 

196 


n^ 


INDIAN'  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


whcro  they  raised  their  beans,  corn,  and  ponipions.  Aljoiit 
tl-'c  dwellings  of  some,  mulberry-trees  were  planted,  ainl 
fine  groves  of  the  same  grew  naturally  in  various  jiarls  of 
the  eountry.  I'he  Knglisli  made  an  attempt  to  raisi'  silk 
liere,  "and  surely  the  worms  prospered  exeellent  well  till 
the  master-vvoikman  fell  sick.  During  which  time  tlicv 
were  eaten  with  rats."  To  efleet  a  clearing,  the  custum 
of  the  natives  was  to  girdle  the  trees  by  bruising  and  burn- 
ing the  bark  near  the  root;  and,  in  the  ensuing  year,  lljc 
soil  was  rudely  loosened  for  the  reception  of  tl  o  sect". 

During  a  great  part  of  the  year  they  ware  obliged  In 
resort  to  the  natural  [)roductions  of  the  forest,  sea,  and 
rivers  for  their  support;  and,  as  their  diet  varied  with  the 
season,  "even  as  the  deer  and  wild  beasts,  they  seemed 
lilt  and  lean,  strong  and  weak."  In  the  S])ring  they  re- 
lied chiefly  upon  fish  and  small  game;  in  summer,  before 
the  green  corn  was  ready  for  use,  they  were  obliged  to  eke 
out  a  subsistence  with  roots,  acorns,  and  shell-fish.  Some 
species  of  acorns,  besides  being  useful  as  food,  furnished  an 
oil  with  which  the  natives  anointed  their  heads  and  joints. 

Smith  enumerates  many  of  the  wild  fiuits  and  game 
which  were  sought  by  the  Indians,  describing  them  in 
quaint  and  forcible  language.  It  is  singular  to  observe 
how  the  original  Indian  names  of  plants  and  animals  have 
been  altered  and  corrupted  on  their  adoption  by  the  Eng- 
lish. All  will  recognize  the  "putchamin,"  whose  "fruit  is 
like  a  medlar;  it  is  first  green,  then  yellow,  then  red, 
wdien  it  is  ripe;  if  it  be  not  ripe,  it  will  draw  a  mans 
mouth  awry,  with  much  torment."  Broth  or  bread  made 
from  the  "Chechinquamin,"  (Chincopin),  was  considered  a 
great  dainty. 

With  a  slight  change  of  orthography,  the  "  Aroughcun, 
a  beast  much  like  a  badger,  but  which  useth  to  live  on 
trees  as  squirrels  do,"  becomes  familiar,  as  do  also  the 
*Opassum"  and  "Mussascus." 


a})pcaring  to  1 


INDIANS  OF  ViaOINIA. 


19^ 


Among  the  fish,  a  kind  of  ray  attracted  the  worthy  cap- 
tain's special  admiration,  being  "so  like  the  picture  of  St. 
George  liis  dragon  as  ])ossiblo  can  be,  except  liis  legs  and 
wii^L's." 

The  Indians  fished  with  nets,  woven  with  no  little  skill ; 
with  hooks  of  bone;  with  the  spear;  and  with  arrows 
attached  to  lines.  For  other  game,  the  principal  weapon 
was  the  bow  and  arrow.  The  arrows  were  generallv 
headed  with  bone  or  fiint,  but  sometimes  with  the  spur 
of  a  turkey  or  a  bird's  bill.  It  is  astonishing  how  the  stone 
aii'DW-heads,  which  are,  to  this  day,  found  scattered  over 
onr  whole  country,  could  have  been  shaped,  or  attached 
to  the  reed  with  any  degree  of  firmness.  Smith  says  that 
a  small  bone  was  worn  constantly  at  the  "bracert"  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  them — probably  to  hold  the 
flint  while  it  was  chipped  into  shape  by  another  stone— 
and  that  a  strong  glue,  obtained  by  boiling  deer's  horns 
and  sinews,  served  to  fasten  them  securely.  Very  soon 
after  intercourse  with  Eurojieans  commenced,  tliese  rude 
implements  were  superseded  b}^  those  of  iron. 

Doer  were  hunted  with  most  effect,  by  driving  in  large 
companies,  dispersed  through  the  woods.  When  a  single 
hunter  undertook  the  pursuit,  it  was  usual  for  him  to  dis- 
guise himself  in  the  skin  of  a  deer,  thrusting  his  arni 
through  the  neck  into  the  head,  which  was  so  stufl'ed  ixs 
to  rescmljle  that  of  the  living  animal.  ^Fhus  accoutred  he 
would  gradually  approach  his  prey,  imitating  the  motions 
of  a  deer  as  nearly  as  possible,  stopping  occasionally,  and 
appearing  to  be  occupied  in  licking  his  body,  until  near 
enough  for  a  shot. 

In  war  these  Indians  pursued  much  the  same  course  as 
the  other  eastern  nations.  On  one  occasion,  at  Mattapa- 
nicnt,  they  entertained  Smith  and  his  comp)anions  with  a 
?liam  fight,  one  division  taking  the  part  of  Monaeans,  and 
the  other  of  Pc/hatans,     After  the  first  discharge  of 


I'i 


1.*^' 


1 

1*            '      '   ' 

Hvf'U 


lift 


1' 


198 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMERICA. 


arrows,  ho  says,  "they  gave  sucli  liorrihlo  sliouts  aii.- 
screeches  us  so  uiuiiy  iiifenuil  liell-hounds  eonld  not  liave 
made  them  more  terrible."  During  the  wliole  iirrlnnu- 
aiice,  "  their  aetioTis,  voices,  and  gestures,  were  so  strained 
to  the  height  of  their  (quality  and  nature,  tliat  the  strani:c- 
ness  thereof  made  it  seein  very  deliglitfid."  Their 
martial  music  consisted  of  the  discordant  sounds  produced 
by  rude  drums  and  rattles. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


CIIAPTEIl  I. 

fONDUCT  OF  EAUI.Y  VOYAGKHS AKRIVAF.  OF  THE    MAY-FLOWEIK  — 

SAMOSET TISqUANTUM MASSASOIT — WKSTOn's  COLONY 

CAUNUITANt's  COASIMKACY — TltAUK  IN  FIHE-AU.MS — 

THOMAS  MORTON — DEATH  OF  MASSASOIT  AND 

ALEXANDER,  AND  ACCESSION  OF  I'HILIP. 

Erewliilo,  where  yon  g;iv  spires  their  brightness  rear, 
Trees  waved,  and  tlie  brown  iiuiiter's  shouts  were  loud 
Amid  the  forest;  and  the  bouiidiiig  deer 
Fled  at  the  glancing  plume,  and  the  gaunt  wulf  yelled  near." 

Bryant. 

It  is  lamentable  to  reflect  tbat  in  the  primitive  dealings 
between  the  venturous  P^uropoans  and  aborigines  of  Amer- 
ica, the  kindly  welcome  and  the  hospitable  reception  \vere 
the  part  of  the  savage,  and  treachery,  kidnapping  and 
murder  too  frequently  that  of  the  civilized  and  nominally 
Christian  visitor. 

It  appears  to  have  been  matter  of  common  custom 
miiong  these  unscrupulous  adventurers  to  seize  by  force 
or  fi'aud  on  the  persons  of  their  simple  entertainers,  and 
to  carry  them  oJf  as  curiosities  to  the  distant  shores  of 
Kuru|)e.  Colmnbus,  with  kindly  motives,  brought  several 
of  the  West  Indian  natives  to  the  Spanish  court ; — others, 
whom  Ills  follower  Pinzon  had  kidnajipcd,  he  restored 
to  their  friends.  Cabot,  in  his  meiiu)ral)le  ex})cdition, 
tbllowcd  the  same  example,  and  the  early  l*'i'eiieh  diseov 


:f    4 

tm 

Uii 

mm. 

;ll 


!  'I'  !:  ? ' 


um' 


i'fcl'-', 


)ili;!!  -ir 


>::<'■      I'll'  »    't  ., 


1^"0 


INDIAN    KACJvS  OK  AMKKiCA. 


crcrs  were  pC',.uliarly  cnlpuLle  in  this  respect.  Most  atro 
i;i()ii.s  of  all  wa.s  tin;  eonduct  of  Thoinas  JFinit,  wliu,  Id 
lijil,  at  M()iilii,^iiii,  eiiliced  twenty-lour  of  these  unfortu- 
nate jjeo^ile  on  boai'd  his  vessel,  and  eai'ried  tliciu  to 
Mala,L,fa,  us  slaves — an  inhuman  picee  of  treaehei'v,  tn 
which  the  English  were  probably  indebted  Ibr  nuicii  i.f 
tlui  subsequent  hostilities  evinced  l^y  the  Indians  ul' 
New  I'hiiiland. 

On  the  (Jth  of  Septeml)cr,  1G20,  the  ]\ray-Flower,  frei;^lii,  1 
wiiii  foi'ty-one  adventurous  enthusiasts,  the  germ  i>\'  a 
western  empire,  sailed  fi'orn  riymouth  in  England;  ami 
on  the  i»th  of  the  folhnving  Novendjer  arrived  on  the 
barren  and  inclement  shores  of  Cape  Cod.  A  few  uav.s 
afterwards  a  rcconnoitering  Jiarty  caught  sight  of  a  small 
numl)er  oi'  the  rat'ves,  who,  however,  fled  at  their  a]i- 
])i'oach.  On  the  bth  of  Decembci',  a  slight  and  desultcjiv 
action  occuri't'd,  the  Indians  attiMiipting  to  surj)risc  the 
Pilgrims  b}'  night.  They  were,  however,  discomlited  and 
comi)cllcd  to  retreat,  leaving,  among  other  tro])liies,  eight- 
een arnjws,  "headed  with  l>rass,  some  with  harts-horn.-;, 
and  others  with  eagles'  claws." 

On  the  11th  of  December  (0.  S.),  memorable  in  tlie 
annals  of  Amei'ica,  the  little  band  of  ]nlgrims  landed,  ami 
fixed  their  first  settl(>ment  at  Plvmouth.  The  Indians,  it 
would  appear,  looked  wiili  evil  eyes  upon  the  pious  colo- 
nists; for,  says  an  old  mn'rator,  "they  got  all  the  powaws 
hi  the  country,  who,  for  three  days  together,  in  a  lici'id 
iind  devilish  manner,  did  curse  and  execrate  them  witli 
their  conjurations,  which  assembly  and  service  they  lu'lil 
in  a  dark  and  dismal  swamp.  Behold  how  Satan  labored 
to  hinder  the  siospel  from  coming  into  New  England." 

''J'lic  ai-tpearanee  of  the  friendly  chief  Samoset,  at  the 
settlement;  his  welcome  in  broken  English;  his  manner.-;, 
and  discourse;  are  quaintly  detailed  by  the  historians  "f 
the  colony.     Jle  had  acquired  some  knowlcdg.>  of  the 


I.VTERyjK 


I.KTERVIEfV    OF    S-^.UOSKT     WITH     THE     PILOItrMS. 


''^^i\fM.^ 


I-     ■  H 


'M^-M 


J  ('  ■  ■' 


1 

,1 

■     1 

i  ;    '    ', 

ilfhn 

1' 

'i           : 

f-:.-      ■; 

11 

tci's  (A'  vessels 

re;i;lily  ctMuiii 

jc'iniivd  eoiic 

iiilialtituiits. 

tliedistriet  win 

only  four  yea 

ciivimistiuice  t 

n\V('(l  its  j)resei 

Before  the  b' 

tlic  only  eomi 

(jiigiiial  inliabi 

iiatuml  fears  ui 

tioiis  lujrror  c] 

;ii<l  iiieantutioi 

want  of  aeoriur 

ailvi'ntni'ei's  in  ; 

ijf  tli(.'  eoKl  and 

It  was  ill  the 

'■a! ion  was  estal 

vi'iitiou  of  Sair 

i'iiii|)anions,  th- 

I'lu'  of  the  two 

j't'riod.     By  liit 

liis  acquaintane 

gn.'at  serviec  tc 

'iniil  liis  death, 

m  liis  passage 

an  o.\j»edition 

t^npphes  of  corn 

interest  attaches 

viceable  Indian 

ivstoration  to  j 

nistuncc  of  cert 

wIk.tc  lie,  with 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


20i 


Kiiglish  laiif^u.igo  by  intercourse  witli  tlie  crews  finrl  mas- 
ters of  vcs.scls  employed  in  ll.->]iiii^f  iijioii  tlic  coast,  and 
reinlily  communicated  such  inl'orination  as  the  settlers 
roinircd   concerninj^  the  nature;  of  tlu;  countiy  and    its 


iiiiKihitants.  He  mlbrnied  tlicni  of  the  manner  in  which 
tlic  district  where  they  were  located  had  been  dcjiopulated 
only  four  years  j)ri:vious,  by  some  incurable  dist'ase;  a 
ciroiiMistance  to  which  the  leeble  colony  not  improbaijly 
u'.vcil  its  preservation. 

bt'fore  the  bold  and  friendly  advances  made  by  Samoset, 
tlie  (inly  conununicatiou  between  tlu;  colonists  and  the 
Dii'nnal  inhabitants  had  been  of  a  hostile  character.  The 
natiu'ul  fears  and  Jealousy  of  the  savages,  and  the  su{)crsti- 
tieiis  luji'ror  of  the  English  at  the  heatlumish  powwaws 
ui'l  incantations  which  thev  witnessed,  toirether  with  the 
waiilof  acomnion  language,  had  kept  the  little  company  of 
liilvchtiu'ci's  in  a  state  of  complete  is(jlation  dni'ing  the  whole 
111' tlic  cold  and  dreary  winter  that  succeeded  their  arrival. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  March  that  a  [)caceful  comnmni- 
latieii  was  established  with  the  natives,  through  the  inter- 
v.'iitiou  of  Samoset.  lie  introduced,  among  o\\\vy  of  his 
(■(juipanions,  the  noted  '^J'isquantiun,  or  Squanto,  who  was 
dill!  of  the  twenty-four  kidnap[)ed  by  Hunt,  at  a  former 
['(■riod.  By  his  knowledge  of  the  country  and  coast,  and 
iiis  acquaintance  with  their  language,  Squanto  became  of 
great  service  to  the  colonists,  and  continued  their  fi-icnd 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1622,  while  he  was 
m  his  passage  down  the  coast,  in  the  capacity  of  pilot  to 
an  expedition  fitted  out  for  the  })urposc  of  ])urchasing 
t^npplies  of  corn  and  other  necessaries,  Much  of  romantic 
intiTcst  attaches  to  the  history  and  adventures  of  this  ser- 
viceable Indian,  both  during  his  captivity  and  after  his 
restoration  to  his  own  country.  Escaping  by  the  as- 
sistance of  certain  kindly-disposed  monks,  from  Spain, 
wIktc  ho,  with  his  companions,  had  been  sold  in  slavery, 


v.    •;■ 

i' 

r 

i* 

.')' 

1'!' 


4  ii 


■'<r 


n 


ii 


•f   r 


Mri 


^r^: 


■l   i 


:.| 


202 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMKIUC.A. 


lie  readied  Miiglaiid,  and  was  taken  into  tlie  eiiijjln^'niciil 
of  a  ii(jiKl(jii  inerehaiit,  named  Slaiuiy,  by  whom  In;  wa.s 
sent  as  jiilot,  or  in  .some  other  eajiaeity,  t(;  various  jilaci's 
on  the  eastern  coast. 

He  was  brou,L,dit  baek  to  Patuxet,  the  Indian  nain(!  nf 
the  eountry  in  whieh  the  pilgrims  fir.st  huided,  by  Captiiin 
'i'homa.s  Dermer,  who  .sailed  in  the  employ  of  .'^ir  l-'ci'li- 
nando  Gorges,  (hiring  tlie  summer  jireeeding  the  anival 
of  the  May-Klower.  .Afler  his  inti-oduetioii  by  Saniosct. 
he  remained  with  his  new  allies,  instrueting  them  in  the 
mode  of  raising  corn,  {o  which  they  were  strangt-rs;  in  the 
best  methods  of  lishiiig;  and  making  himself  of  iiiestima- 
ble  sei'viee. 

l)y  the  friendly  influence  of  S(pianto  and  Samoset,  wlio 
actetl  as  interpreters,  a  league  of  amity  and  mutual  pm- 
teetion  was  ellected  between  the  colony  and  the  powerful 
sachem  Ma.ssa.soit,  father  (;f  the  still  more  celebrated  Pliili]). 
]\Iassa.soit's  head-quarters  were  at  Mount  Hope,  on  Nana- 
gansett  bay,  overlooking  the  present  tmvii  of  Brist<jl;  a 
striking  feature  in  a  land.scaj)e  of  remarkable  beauty,  ainl 
commaii<ling  from  its  summit  a  magnificent  j)rosj)eet  of 
islan<l,  bay  and  ocean.  His  authority  extended  over  a!l 
the  Indian  tribes  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Plyniuiitli 
colony,  and  he  held  an  uncertain  but  influential  sway  over 
portions  of  other  nations  far  into  the  interior. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1621,  some  of  the  princijial 
inhabitants  of  the  settlement,  among  others,  Ivbvanl 
"W'inslow  and  Ste})hen  IIo})kin.s,  went  on  an  embas.«iy  to 
the  court  of  this  chief,  as  well  to  observe  his  power  ainl 
resources  as  to  renew  the  amicable  treaties  before  enteroil 
into.  They  carried  such  attractive  ornaments  and  appare) 
as  would  })lease  the  eye  of  a  savage. 

They  were  accompanied  by  Squanto;  and  although  their 
entertainment,  both  as  respects  food  and  lodging.?,  was  but 
Eorry,  yet  tlu!y  were  received  in  a  spirit  of  friendliiicsi 


NKW  KM;I,AN1)  INDIANS. 


203 


'fliev  obtaiiiotl  much  useful   iufonnutiou  oouconiin^  tho 
,:iMoiiii(liM;,'  tribes,  aud  ulso  ItMi-ucd  the  power  uinl  iiuiu 
ivis  ol'  till!  Nan':igaus(!tts. 

Tlu;  .ship  KortuiK!  arrivci]  at  I'lyiiioutli,  in  tlie  month 
u!' Nuvi-niber,  brin^nn^  out  thirty-live  emigrants;  but  no 
Miivisions  lor  their  sujiport;  in  eonsc<[U('nce  of  wliii-li,  tht; 
rnloiiy  was  not  louij;  after  greatly  distressinl  by  want.  'I'o 
;i.M  to  tlii'ir  troubl(\s  and  fear.s,  the  Narragaii.^etts  sent 
til,  111  a  hostile  me.ssage,  e.\[)res.sed  by  a  bundle  of  aiTows 
\M  with  a  snake  skin,  'i'he  skin  was  returned  tilled  with 
liullct.'^,  :ind  the  governor  made  the  spirited  reply — "that, 
if  tlicy  loved  war  rather  than  i)eace,  they  might  begin 
'.vlii'H  they  would." 

The  liou.ses  were  thenceforth  inclosed  '  '  paling.'*,  and 
every  i)recautlon  was  taken,  by  watch  and  ward,  to  guard 
ii^aiiist  a  .sudden  attack. 

During  the  ensuing  year,  1G22,  two  ships  were  sent  over 
fmai  England  by  u  Mr.  Thomas  Weston,  with  a  consider- 
;il)lc  number  of  coloni.sts;  in  one  of  them  came  "sixty  lu.sty 
iiH'ii."  A  new  settlement  was  formed  by  them  at  Wesagu.s- 
i]ua.set,  on  Massachusetts  Bay,  known  as  Weston's  colony. 

The  dishonesty  and  wastefulness  of  these  new  comers 
[inxhieed  very  injurious  effects  upon  the  welfare  of  the 
I'nlniiy  at  large.  The  hostility  of  the  Indians  was  excited 
by  their  depredations,  and,  if  we  may  believe  the  old  nar- 
i'ation.s,  they  wcr'^  even  ba.se  enough  to  circulate  among 
,  tlic  natives  false  reports  of  an  intention  on  tlie  part  of  the 
Plymouth  authorities  to  attack  them,  and  forcibly  sei;^e  their 
cnin  and  provisions,  the  time  being  one  of  great  .scarcity. 

Weston's  men  were  in  j)0.sse.ssion  of  a  small  vessel,  in 

,  nliich  they  propo.sed  to  their  Plymouth  neighbors  to  un- 

,  ilcrtake  an  expcdititju  round  Cape  Cod,  for  the  purpose  of 

t'.ii'liiig  for  sui)plies  from  the  natives.    After  two  unsucce.ss- 

t'ul  attempts,  having  been  delayed  by  rough  weather,  they 

i^acoceded  in  reaching  Xau.set  and  ^[attaclliest,  where  they 


'.i 


tm 


11  m 


m<'v\ 


I  r. 


'jot 


JM»IAN    UACIW   OF    AMKiaCA. 


I       5 


olttaiiK'd  ;i  (|ii!iiifity  of  coni  and  Ik'.'uis.  Tt  was  on  tliio 
vova^fi;  that  llicy  lost  tlioir  j^'iiidci  ami  intcrpi'i'tcr  Sniijuitu, 
He  had  been  a  hi;_ddy  iiscfid  ami  liiithfid  coadjutor  to  the 
colonists;  his  oidy  laults  Ix'in.^  a  natural  incliuaiiou  ;., 
j»i'('sunii!  ujKJii  his  inij»ortaiK'c  in  his  intcfcoursc  wiili  l,;s 
c'.ountrynicMi.  'I'his  Ird  him  to  exalt  liirnsell"  in  lh<ir  (yi'.j 
by  talcs  of  his  great  inllucucc  (jvcr  the  Mnglish,  aii'l  v\- 
aggerated  reports  of  ihc^ir  powers  and  skill,  lie  afliriMnl 
that  they  had  the  plague  buried  in  the  ground,  which  tli«'y 
could,  at  pleasure,  let  loose  for  the  destruction  of  tiic  In- 
dians, On  on(;  occasion  ho  was  believed,  for  soiru;  jiui'iioso 
of  his  own,  to  have  raised  a  false  alarm  of  an  attack  hv  the 
Narragansctts,  aceomi)anicd  by  Massasoit.  This  saclu'iii 
became  at  last  so  e\asperate(I  against  S(pianto,  that,  on  di- 
vers occasions,  he  sought  to  ])nt  him  to  death,  and  the  colo- 
nists had  no  small  didieulty  in  preserving  their  interpreter. 

( ireat  rivalry  and  Jealousy  o.xi.sted  between  Squanto  aini 
riobainak,  another  friendly  Indian,  who  served  the  .settlors 
in  a  similar  capacity. 

lu  the  year  l()2.j,  the  people  at  Weston's  plantation, 
princi})ally,  as  appears,  from  their  own  folly  and  inijirovi- 
(lence,  were  reduced  to  a  .'^tate  of  extreme  misery  and  des- 
titution. They  became  .scattered  in  small  ])artics,  obtaining: 
a  ])recarious  subsistence  by  gathering  shell-fish,  and  hv 
woiking  for  or  pilfering  from  the  natives.  On  one  occa- 
sion they  actually  hanged  a  man  for  .stealing,  in  oi'der  to 
pacify  the  Indians;  and  although  it  appears  probable  that 
he  wh(jm  they  executed  was,  in  reality,  guilty,  yet  they 
have  been  accused  of  sparing  the  princii)al  oU'ender,  as  an 
abledxKlied  and  serviceal)le  member  of  the  comniuuily, 
and  hanging,  in  liis  stead,  an  old  and  decrepid  weaver. 
See  "lludil)i-as"  upon  this  j)oint. 

An  extensive  conspiracy  was  formed  among  various 
tribes  of  the  Massachusetts  Indians,  and  others,  extendin;:. 
as  some  suppo.scd,  even  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  island 


I*.'' 


in 


1 1 


'  • .  > 


m 


■m 


£■ 


1 

iL  1 

;                               _^ 

f   y|P  l|' 

^^    J 

iSi 

H 

^^ 


-i~>--.-=^=.-'--^-_  '^^WFTtfi - 


I  :^^' 


4'f^ 


•mi;    •""^e  ,'*'■ 


■4*?   <V; 


"'fi? 


'         t. 


fijir^Bfcin  11^  ■>■■-' '-'"  ,^- 


TISHUAM-TUM^     OR    SQUAJVTO, 

THE   GflDE    A.VD    INTERmETER    OF    THE    COLONISTS. 


!.;nl  eiidcavorc 


tin'ir  liaviiiu;  I'c 


Sent  for  assist;! 
lou'  and    Join 
li;ivc  been  tlie 
liistiny  for  his 
Jliibaniak  as  ir 
111  order  to  c 
>t:UKlisli,  with 
set,  and  attack 
toll's  men,  ovci 
;  ntiiong  the  re: 
Til  is  chief  had 
liio  arrival  of 
(Ici'larcd  that  li 
niiin's  intcntioi 
In'  is  come  to 
^ot  long  after, 
i^!lives    before 
anion irst  the  re.' 
icnife  that  on  tl 
I  have  one  that 
tiiat  hnth  a  rna 
must  marry;  b 
and  bv  eat  but 


NEW  ENGLAN])    INDIANS. 


20: 


of  Cajicwack,  or  ^FartlKi's  Yiii<'y;inl,  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  Weston's  (.-olonv,  and  p('rliaj)s  that  at  Plymonth 
,il.-;o.  ('aunbitant,  or  Corhitant,  oiu-  of  M;iss;i.-(>it's  most 
(listiiiguishofl  subordinate  clnefs,  was  a  i)rinic  mover  in  this 
i)Ii)t.  lie  had  always  entertained  hostile  feclinixs  towards 
the  l"]iiLrlish,  and  regarded  their  inercasc  and  prot^perity  as 
(if  fatal  tendeiiey  to  the  welf'ai'e  of  his  own  })eople.  'I'lio 
design  was  made  known  to  some  of  the  ehicf  men  of  Ply- 
iiiuuth,  by  Massasoit,  (whom  the  leadei's  of  the  eonspiraej 
]:;i(l  endeavored  to  draw  into  tJH'ir  plans,)  in  gratitude  fjr 
their  liavinti"  restored  hitn  from  adanwrous  fit  of  siekuess. 
Having  been,  as  he  supposed,  at  tl  e  point  of  death,  he 
Sent  for  assistance  to  the  colony,  and  Mr.  Ivlward  Wins- 
low  and  John  Ilamden,  (sn])posed  by  some  writers  to 
have  been  the  same  afterwards  so  celebrated  in  Knglish 
liistury  for  his  resistance  to  royal  cnci'oacliments)  with 
llobaniak  as  interj.ireter,  wei'c  dispatchi>d  to  his  assistance. 
Ill  order  to  check  the  purposed  uprising,  Ca])tain  Miles 
."^tandish,  with  only  eight  me!i,  pi'oceeiled  t(*  Wcsaguscpia- 
set,  and  attacking  the  Indians,  in  conjunction  with  Wes- 
tnu's  men,  overpowered  them,  killing  six  of  their  number; 
among  the  rest,  the  noted  and  dangerous  Wittuwamat. 
This  chief  had  displayed  great  boldness  and  sjurit.  Ou 
the  arrival  of  Standish,  he,  with  others  of  his  company, 
declared  that  lie  was  in  no  wise  iu^norant  of  the  l^urlish- 
man's  intentions.  "'Tell  Standish,'  said  he,  'we  knov; 
ho  is  come  to  kill  ns,  but  let  him  begin  when  he  dare.' 
Not  long  after,  many  would  come  to  the  fort,  and  wlu.'t  theii- 
i\iiives  before  him,  with  many  braving  speeches.  One 
atiioii'jfstthe  rest  was  by  Wittuwamat's  braua-imr  he  had  a 
icnifo  that  on  tlie  handle  had  a  woman's  face,  but  at  home' 
1  have  one  that  hath  killed  both  French  and  Knglish,  and 
that  hath  a  man's  face  upon  it,  and  by  and  by  these  two 
must  marry;  but  this  here  l)y  and  by  shall  see,  and  by 
and  by  eat  but  not  spcakc."     Of  the  manner  of  this  Tn- 


it 


■l 


I 


I?,  ( 


|,im^WM«.-{  jj 

1' 

s 

i 

2o(; 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


(liiLii's  death,  and  tliat  of  Pcksiiot,  one  of  liis  |iriiic;ii:,l 
0uiii}iaiii()ns,  kiHed  by  Standisli  liiinsclf  iu  a  d('S}ici;itf 
iiaiul  to  hand  struggle,  AVinslow  says:  "But  it  is  incivdi- 
\)\it  how  niany  wounds  these  two  jKiniescs  reeeived  hii'oro 
Ihcy  died,  not  making  any  fearCid  noise,  hut  ealehliii:  at 
tlicir  weapons  and  striving  to  tlie  last."  \Vittuwani;it  ha^l 
often  exj)rcssed  great  contempt  of  the  Knglisli  fur  thi.-ir 
want  of  fortitude,  declaring  that  "they  died  crying,  makini,' 
sour  faees,  more  like  children  than  men."  A  bi'otlur  ut 
tliis  chief,  onl}'  eighteen  years  of  age,  they  hanged. 

The  AVeston  plantation  Avas,  however,  broken  up,  tlic 
survivors,  much  reduced  in  numbers  b}'  sickness  and  want, 
setting  sail  in  their  vessel  for  the  eastward,  to  join  tlie 
fishing  scpuidron  on  the  coast:  as  the  old  historian  has  it, 
"here  see  the  effects  of  pride  and  vain-glory."  Tliniiia.s 
Weston  himself,  aftei  a  singular  series  of  misfoilunes, 
only  arrived  at  Plymouth  to  learn  the  disastrous  fate  (if 
his  colony. 

I'hc  system  of  working  the  land  in  common  was  t]ii>' 
year  abandoned  by  the  Plymouth  colonists,  and  a  jiortion 
of  laud  set  apart  to  each  man;  a  change  which  produerd 
the  most  favorable  results. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years  from  the  formation  of  the 
Plymouth  colony,  the  Indians,  in  s})ite  of  a  royal  proda- 
niation  forbidding  the  traffic,  began  to  supply  themselves 
witli  lii-e-ai'ms  and  ammunition,  the  use  of  -which  they  ;ic- 
cpiired  with  singular  facility.  The  trade  for  these  danger- 
ous articles  first  commenced  upon  the  eastern  coast,  where 
they  were  brought  b}^  English,  French  and  Dutch  fishing 
vessels,  and  was  further  extended  into  the  interior  in  1<.)-^, 
by  one  Thomas  Morton,  a  notable  contemner  of  godliness, 
and  long  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  sober  colonists.  Besides 
his  capital  ofrencc  of  teaching  the  Indians  the  use  of  fire- 
arms, and  driving  a  ])rofitable  trade  with  them  in  these 
deadly  weapons,  he  l)ccame,  as  M(M'ton  has  it,  "a  lord  ul 


duct  of  this  cii 


^'E\\'  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


201 


misnilp,"  AvilU  a  set  of  disorderly  conipaiiions  avIh)  li:id 
Urn  brought  out  iu  the  same  sliij)  with  him.  They  spent 
vliattliev  </iiiiie<l  hy  unhiwfiil  traih'  in  "  vainly  quaHiiig  and 
driiikiiig  hoth  win(3  and  strong  liipiors  to  great  exeess — • 
setting  u})  a  May-jxjle,  drinking  and  daneing  about  it,  and 
frisking  about  it  like  i^o  many  lairies,  or  I'uries  I'atliei'." 
This  May-pole  Avas  eut  down  by  Kndieott,  and  Morton 
was  seized  and  sent  to  luiglaiid,  where  he  wrote  an  "infa- 
inous  and  scurrilous  book  '('riic  Xew  Caruian),'  against 
many  godly  and  ehiefnren  of  the  country,"  In  HVoA,  a 
voar  mcinorablc  for  the  tlrst  luiglish  settlement  on  the 
Connecticut,  by  AVilliani  Holmes,  in  spite  of  the  opposi- 
tion of  the  Dutch,  a  "])estilent  fever"  carried  off  many, 
l)oth  of  the  colonists  and  Indians  thereabout. 

Morton,  in  his  "Xew  England's  Memorial,"  S'\ys  that 
"It  is  to  be  observed  that,  tlie  spi'ing  bef  )re  this  sickness, 
tluTC  was  a  numerous  company  (jf  ilies,  which  were  like, 
loi-  bigness,  unto  wasj)s  or  bumble-bees;  they  came  out  of 
little  holes  iu  the  gi'nund,  and  did  eat  up  the  green  tilings, 
ami  i.irule  such  a  constant  yelling  noise  as  made  the  woods 
ring  of  them,  and  ready  to  deafen  the  hearers."  The  In- 
dians {>ro})hesied  sirkncss  from  tiiis  sign. 

No  very  sei'ious  hostilities  occui-rcd  between  the  Ply- 
mouth colonists  and  the  luitivcs,  from  the  period  of  which 
'.ve  have  been  speaking,  until  the  year  l(jo7,  nu'moi'ai»lo 
lor  the  extir{)ation  of  the  Pei[U(jts.     Tlie  causes  ami  con- 
iliict  of  this  cam})aign,  mai'ked  as  it  was  by  the  most  sav- 
age ferocit}' on  the  part  of  both  Indians  and  I'higlish,  will 
be  detailed  in  a  succeeding  chapter. 
I      In  the  year  l()o9,  ^[assasoit,  or,  as  he  is  generally  styled 
at  this  period,  Woosamequcn,  brought  his  eldest  son  ^[ooa- 
,  nam,  otherwise  called  Wamsutta,  to  the  court  at  Plymouth, 
i  and  solemnly  renewed  the  former  league  of  peace  and 
amity  with  the  colony. 


fi 


8    "i  1. 


•'•■J"' 


ill''' 


■!« 


203 


IXDI  VX   HACKS  OK  AMKRICA. 


After  flio  (Icatli  of  tlic  frioiidly  and  ])0\verriil  saclicin, 
liis  sons  Wamsutta  and  Mctacc^inct  conliiiiicd  their  jiiuics 
.sioii  of  LfDod-will  towards  llic  Kurdish.  Al)out  l()w(i,  tluv 
presented  tlieniselves  to  the  court  at  I'lynioulli,  ami,  hv 
tlieir  own  I'e'juest,  received  I'ln^lisli  names.  AVamsiiHn 
was  dcnoniinated  Alexander,  and  Mctacomct,  Pliilip,  loni? 
after  a  name  of  terror  to  tlio  colonics. 

In  1()02,  Alexander,  having  been  suspected  of  heiiiL' 
engaged  with  the  Narragans.'tts  in  plans  hostile  to  tin; 
J'lnglish  settlers,  was  taken  by  snrprise,  and  foreiliI\'  car- 
ried to  ]''lvniouth.  'Idiis  indignity  is  said  so  to  liave  eliafid 
liis  ])r()ud  s])irit,  that  it  threw  him  into  a  fever,  of  ^vlli(■ll 
lie  died  shortly  after.  Contradictory  reports  have  h.rn 
lianded  do^vn  to  us  concerning  the  manner  of  his  treat- 
ment during  this  brief  captivity,  and  the  circumstances 
attending  his  death. 

Shortly  after  this  (>vent,  Philip,  nowsachem  of  Pocanokct, 
came  to  the  court  at  I'lymonth,  with  renewed  acknowlcil;.'- 
ments  of  subjection  to  the  king  of  England,  and  promisis 
to  fuKil  all  engagements  theretofore  entered  into  bv  liiiii- 
self,  his  father  and  brother.  lie  covenanted,  moreovrr, 
not  to  sell  any  of  his  lands  to  strangers  without  l!ie 
knowledg'c  and  consent  of  the  authorities  at  Plymouth. 


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lit:. 


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7//K     COr.O.VtSTS     GOr.VO     TO     CHUItin     .iKMKIJ 

DuniM";  'I'liE  PEKion  or  the  kaf.i.v  indian  wars. 


THK    NAi;i!A(;.V, 
OLDHAM  —  I 


>'KU'   KNQLAXl)    INDIANS. 

209 

CIIAPTKU  11. 

THK    NAi; 

; Ai; A Nsr.TTS — rii i;  vi-.qudts — M l-i:iji:i 

OF    STuNE    AMD 

OLDHAM  —  KNDICDTT  S  KXI-KDITIDN TIIK  I'lAiUOT  WAK 

ui;sTi;r(  Tio.N  oi-  thk  i'i:cit;oT  fout — thk  tkii!K 

KKSPEU.SKU   AND  SUBDUED. 

"Dark  iis  llio  frost-nipped  loaves  that  strew  the  ground, 
'J'lie  Indian  hunter  here  his  shelter  found; 
Here  eut  his  bow,  and  siiapod  his  arrows  true, 
Here  hnill  his  wi^watn  and  his  hark  canoe, 
Speared  tlie  qiiiek  salmon  luapini,'  up  the  fall, 
And  slew  the  deer  without  the  rille  ball; 
Here  his  younif  squaw  her  cradTin^'-tree  would  choose, 
Sin^'inf,'  her  chant  to  hush  her  swart  papoose; 
Here  stain  her  (piills,  and  strintf  her  trinkets  rude, 
And  weave  her  warrior's  waiui)um  in  the  wood." 

IJllAINARD. 

TiiH  islaiuls  and  western  shofcs  of  the  beautiful  bay 
^vhicli  still  bears  tlicir  name  were,  at  the  time  of  tlie  fin-^t 
liiiropean  settlement,  in  the  possession  of  the  great  iv.id 
powerful  tribe  of  the  Narragansetts.  Their  Joiiiinic^ns 
extended  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  the  westward,  as  far  as 
the  country  of  the  l^cquots,  from  whom  they  were  st;pa- 
rated  by  tlie  Pawcatuck  river. 

Their  ehief  sachem  was  the  venerable  Canonieus,  who 
governed  the  tribe,  with  the  assistance  and  support  of  his 
nephew  ^fiantonimo.  The  celebrated  Roger  Williams,  the 
founder  of  the  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  plantations, 
.'ihva_ys  noted  for  his  kindness,  justice  and  impartiality 
towards  the  natives,  was  high  in  favor  with  the  old  chief, 
and  exercised  an  influence  over  him,  without  which  hi» 
power  might  have  been  fatally  turned  against  tl.  English. 
Canonieus,  he  informs  us,  loved  him  as  a  son  to  the  day 
of  his  death. 

Mr.  AVilliams  had  been  obliged  to  leave  the  colony  at 
li 


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f     %■ 


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210 


IMiIAN   KACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


the  cjastwiinl,  in  c'onsof(nonco  of  liis  reli^'ion.s  Djiimonf; 
wliieli  did  wot  (■oiiicic^;  witli  those  so  strictly  intcrwovci 
Avith  tho  {^()\eiiiiuc'iit  uiid  policy  of  the  purittiiis.  He  \v;i,s 
a  man  of  whose  enterprise  and  wisdom  the  state  whidi  he 
lirst  settled  is  Justly  ])roud,  and  whose  liberal  and  mai^iiniii. 
mous  dis])ositi(Mi  stands  out  in  sti'ikin<;,'  relief  when  com. 
])ared  with  th(3  intolerant  and  narrow-miiuled  prejudiics 
of  his  contemporaries.  \ 

Aliantonimo  is  described  as  a  warrior  of  a  tall  nipl 
commandinj^  appearance;  proud  and  magnanimous;  "sub- 
til ':i:id  cunning  in  Lis  contrivcments;"  and  of  undauiital 


courage. 


The  Tequots  and  ^dolu'gans,  who  formed  but  one  triln', 
and  were  governed  during  the  early  period  of  Kiiglisli 
colonization  by  one  sacnem,  appear  to  have  cmigratril 
from  the  west  not  very  long  before  the  first  landing  uf 
Europeans  on  these  shores.  Tliey  were  entirely  disfou- 
nected  with  the  surrounding  tribes,  with  whom  tlicy  wore 
engaged  in  continual  hostilities,  and  were  said  1o  have 
reached  tlic  country  they  then  inhabited  from  the  norili. 
'riicy  ])robably  formed  a  portion  of  the  Mohican  or  MmIic- 
gan  nation  on  the  Hudson,  and  arrived  at  tbe  sea-coast  ly 
a  circuitous  route,  moving  onward  in  search  of  better  liunt- 
ing  grounds,  or  desirous  of  the  facilities  for  procuviuL' 
su])])ort  offered  by  the  productions  of  the  sea. 

In  various  warlike  incursions  they  had  gained  a  partial 
possession  of  extensive  districts  upon  the  Connecticut  river, 
and  from  them  the  early  Dutch  settlers  purchased  the  title 
to  the  lands  they  occupied  in  that  region. 

In  the  3'car  IGo-l,  one  Captain  Stone,  a  trader  from  Vir- 
ginia, of  whom  the  early  narrators  give  rather  an  evil  report, 
having  put  into  the  Connecticut  river  in  a  small  vessel, 
was  killed,  together  with  his  whole  crew,  by  a  party  of  In- 
djans  wdiom  he  had  suffered  to  remain  on  board  his  vessel. 

Two  years  later,  a  Mr.  John  Oldham  was  mui'dereJ  at 


NKW  KNCLANI)    INDIANS. 


211 


Dloek  Island,  (called  Manissos  in  the  riidian  ton^nio,)  by  a 
lii)ily  of  natives,  'i^iey  were  discovered  in  possession  of 
the  vessel,  and,  endeavoring  to  make  their  escape,  were 
most  of  them  drowned. 

The  Narragansetts  and  IVquots  hotli  denied  havin,!^' 
participated  in  this  last  outrage,  and,  a.s  respects  Stone  and 
his  companions,  ulthongli  the  Pequots  afterwards  acknowl- 
tdgod  that  some  of  their  people  were  the  guilty  j)arties, 
vet  tlicy  averred  that  it  Avas  done  in  rtjtaliation  for  the 
niunlcr  of  one  of  their  own  sachems  by  t  le  Dutch,  deny- 
ing that  they  knew  any  distinction  between  the  Dutch  and 
Knglirih. 

To  revenge  the  death  of  Oldham,  an  expedition  was 
fitted  out  from  Massachusetts,  with  the  avowed  determina- 
tion of  destroying  all  tlic  male  irdiabitants  of  Block  L^land, 
aiul  of  enforcing  heavy  tribute  from  the  Pecpiots.  Those 
eiigfigcd  in  the  undertaking,  under  tlie  command  of  Kndi- 
(.'iitt,  landed  on  the  island,  ravaged  the  corn-fields,  and 
I'Unied  the  wigwams  of  the  inhabitants;  but  the  islanders 
Hiececded  in  concealing  themselves  in  the  thickets,  so  that 
!i'w  were  killed.  Endicott  thence  proceeded  to  the  Pecjuot 
country,  notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  Gardiner, 
cuniinander  of  the  garrison  at  Saybrook,  who  told  him 
that  the  consequence  would  only  be  to  "raise  a  hornet's 
nest  about  their  ears." 

Disembarking  near  the  mouth  of  the  Thames,  the 
adventurers  were  surrounded  by  a  large  body  of  savages, 
mostly  unarmed,  who  questioned  them  of  their  j)urposes 
with  much  sur])risc  and  curiosity.  The  P]nglish  demanded 
the  murderers,  whom  they  alledged  to  be  harbored  there, 
or  their  heads.  The  Indians  replied  that  their  chief  sa- 
chem, Sassacus,  was  absent,  and  sent  or  pretended  to  send 
I'arties  in  search  of  the  persons  demanded.  P^ndicott, 
impatient  of  delay,  and  suspecting  deceit,  drove  them  off, 
after  a  slight  skirmish,  and  proceeded  to  lay  waste  their 


I  V 


i? 


'  * 


f 


<!■ 


ii     • 


212 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


corn-fioMs  and  wij^wams,  (l(>stroying  tlicir  canoes  and  doi'iv 
tlunii  incalculable  ini.schicf.  j 

Tlic  satiic  opciratioiis  wore  carried  on  the  next  day,  upon 
the  {)j)[)o.sit(;  iiaiik  of  the  river,  after  which  the  party  set 
sail  lor  hotnc.  , 

Tlie  ell'ect  of  procedures  like  these,  was  such  as  might 
have  been  cx])ccted.  The  hostility  of  the  Pcquots  towurd.s 
the  whites  was  from  this  period  implacable.  [ 

For  several  years  the  tribe  liad  been  engaged  in  a  desul- 
tory war  with  the  Narragansetts,  arising  from  a  (juarroi, 
in  1002,  respecting  the  boundary  of  their  respective  do- 
mains. Sassacus  at  once  ])erccived  the  necessity  or  policy 
(jf  iiealing  this  breach,  and  jirocuring  the  assistance  of  lii.s 
powerful  neighbors  in  the  antici{)ated  struggle.  He  tlieiv- 
fore  sent  ambassadors  to  Canon icus,  charged  with  j)ro]M)- 
sals  of  treaty,  and  of  union  against  the  usur])ing  English. 

A  grand  council  of  the  Narrjjgansett  sachems  was  culled,  , 
and  the   messengers,    according  to   Mort(m,  "usimI  niany 
pernicious  arguments  to  move  thCiU  thereunto,  as  tluit  the 
English  were  strangers,   and  began  to  overspread  their  : 
country,  and  would  deprive  them  thereof  in  time,  if  thcv  : 
were  suffered  to  grow  and  increase;"  that  they  need  not  , 
"come  to  open  battle  with  them,  but  fire  thei"  houses,  kill 
their  cattle,  and  lie  in  ambush  for  them,"  all  with  little 
danger  to  theinselvcs. 

The  Narragansetts  hesitated,  and  would  not  improbably 
have  acceded  to  the  proposals  but  for  the  intervention  and  ; 
persuasion  of  their  friend  Roger  Williams.     Jlis  influence,  , 
combined  with  the  hope,  so  dear  to  an  Indian   heart,  of 
being  revenged  upon  their  old  advei'saries,  linally  ])i'e- 
vailed.     Miantonimo,  with  u  rmmber  of  other  chiefs  and  ; 
warriors,  proceeded  to  Boston;  was  received  with  much  i 
parade;  and  concluded  a  treaty  of  firm  alliance  with  the 
Knglish,  stipulating  not  to  make  peace  with  the  Pequots, 
without  their  assent. 


NKW  KN(JF-A.\I)    INDIANS. 


213 


Mcantitno,  during  this  suiiu:  yvav  (UJ-h),  the  I'cquots 
hail  coinmoiiccd  liostilitics  by  attack iiig  the  wettlcrs  on  tlic, 
('((iiru'clicut.  'I'hoy  lay  concculod  ubout  the  Ibrt  at  Say- 
lirook,  ivady  to  seize  any  of  the  httle  garrison  who  .should 
be  fuiind  without  the  walls. 

Til  several  instances  they  succeeded  in  making  captives, 
wlioin  they  tortured  to  death  with  their  usual  savage  eru- 
olty.  Among  the  rest,  a  "godly  young  man  of  the  name 
of  Ihilterheld,"  was  taken,  and  nxisted  alive. 

The  boldness,  and  even  temerity  of  the  few  occupants 
of  the  fort,  with  these  horrors  staring  them  in  the  fiico,  is 
surprising.  Gardiner,  their  governor,  on  one  occasion, 
exasperated  a  body  of  Indians  who  had  come  forward  for 
a  species  of  parley,  by  mocking,  daring,  and  taunting  them 
in  their  own  style  of  irony  and  vituperation. 

The  colonists  appear  to  have  been  even  more  horror- 
Ftriekon  and  enraged  at  tlig  blasphemous  language  of  their 
wild  opponents,  than  at  their  imj)laeable  cruelty.  When 
thov  tortured  a  prisoner,  tliey  would  bid  him  call  upon  his 
God,  and  mock  and  deride  him  if  he  did  so,  in  a  manner  not 
unlike  that  recorded  in  thecase  of  a  more  illust  rious  sufferer. 

TluT  told  Gardiner  that  they  had  "killed  iMiLdishnuMi. 
and  could  kill  them  like  musrpiitoes;"  and  that  there  was 
one  among  them  who,  "if  lie  could  kill  one  more  Eng- 
lishman, would  be  equal  with  God." 

Joseph  Tilly,  commander  of  a  trading  vessel,  a  man 
described  as  "brave  and  hardy,  but  passionate  and  Avilful," 
going  on  shore,  incautiously,  and  against  the  advice  of 
(•ardiiicr,  was  taken  by  the  savages,  and  tortured  to  ileatli 
in  the  most  lingering  and  cruel  manner,  being  ])artiallv 
dismembered,  and  slowly  burned  to  death  bv  lighti'd 
Planters  thrust  into  his  flesh.  Ilia  conduct  in  this  ex- 
tremity excited  the  lasting  admin^tion  of  his  tormentors; 
for,  like  one  of  their  own  braves,  he  endured  all  with 
silent  fortitude. 


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INItlAN    IJAt'KS  OF  AMKIMCA. 


The  rii'liiiiiM  were  iiccustfJiiUMl  to  imit'it(!  niid  dcriil.'  ilio 
cries  iukI  t.i)kciis  of  jmiii  wliicli  tlicy  usually  clicitiMl  frmi, 
tiM!  wliilt'.-,  as  Ix'iii^f  uMWorlhy  ol'  men,  and  toK'ralilc  oulv 
ill  woiiii'ii  or  c'liildi'cii. 

Ill  A)iiil  i»I'  this  year  (KI.'IT),  an  attack  was  niaili-  ujinn 
tlir  villa,L:(3  of  Wi'tlKTslleld,  by  u  body  of  lN'<|Uots,  a-si.-t'il 
()!•  Ifd  by  other  Indians  of  the  vicinity,  whose  cninity  IumI 
been  excited  by  some  unjust  treatment  on  the  pari  of  tin' 
wliit(!  inhal/itaiits.  Three  women  ami  six  men  ^l'  tht; 
colonists,  were  killc(l,  and  cattle  and  other  propeitv  Ar- 
Ktroycd  or  carried  olf  to  a  consiih-rabli!  extc^nt.  T\vi»  \  uiiir_f 
girls,  dan.Lihters  of  one  Abraham  Swain,  were  taken  uimI 
carried  into  captivity.  Their  release  was  afterwards  oli- 
tained  by  some  Dutch  traders,  who  inveigled  a  number  ef 
lV'([Uots  on  Ijoard  their  vessel,  and  threatened  to  tlnow 
them  into  the  sea  if  the  girls  wt-re  not  delivered  Uj).  dur- 
ing the  time  that  these  prisoners  were  in  the  power  nftlio 
uubans,  they  received  no  injury,  but  were  treated  with 
uniform  kiiubiess,  a  circumstance  wliicli,  with  many  etlicr.s 
of  tlie  same  nature,  marks  the  cliaracter  of  the  barbariain 
as  being  by  no  means  destitute  of  the  Ihier  feeliii.i:s  ot' 
humanity. 

The  settlers  on  the  Connecticut  now  resolved  upeii 
active  operations  against  the  Pequot  tribe.  Although  tiio 
whole  number  of  whites  upon  the  river,  capable  of  doiiii 
military  service,  did  not  exceed  three  hundred,  a  force  of 
ninety  men  was  raised  and  equipped.  Captain  fJohn  .M;i- 
.son,  a  soldier  by  profession,  and  a  bold,  energetic  man, 
was  appointc*!  to  the  command  of  the  expedition,  and  tlu; 
Uc/erend  Mr.  Stone,  one  of  tlie  first  preachers  at  Ifaitfenl, 
who  had  accomjianied  liis  })coj)le  acro.ss  the  wilderness,  at 
tin;  time  of  the  lli'st  settlement  of  that  town,  vmdertoek 
the  ofl'icc  of  chajdain — a  ])osition  of  far  greater  importain.'o 
and  responsibility,  in  the  eyes  of  our  forefathers,  than  is 
accorded  to  it  at  the  present  day. 


NKW  KNr.I.ANI)    IVI»IANS. 


2Vi 


LottiM's  were  written  fo  tlic  aMtlioritios  of  Nfiissachtisi'tts, 
re jiK 'Still;,'  nssistiiiicc,  iii;isiiiiicli  as  the  war  was  i)\viii;.r,  in 
no  small  iiioastirc,  to  tin-  ill-advisccj  uiid  worsc-coiMliicicd 
r\]ir(litii>ii  scut  fortli,  as  uc  liave  licf'on'  (jcsi'rilicd,  liv  lliat 


I 


lidMV.  'I'lio  n'([uinMl  aid  was  readily  riiniislie(l,  ;iih!  ,\ 
(diisideral)lc  l)ody  of  men,  iiiidiM'  tla;  eoinniaiiil  of  haniel 
Tatrick',  was  sent  to  tin;  iNari'agansett  saelieni,  to  laocui-c 
his  (MojHM'ation,  and  afterwards  to  Join  the  lon-es  of  '\la..-on. 

Tlic  little  army  was  I'lirther  increased  by  tlu^  addition 
(if  a  party  of  Indians,  led  by  a  chief  afterwards  so  celc- 
lpratc(l  in  the  annals  of  the  colony,  as  to  deserve  more 
iIkiii  a  casual  nuMition  upon  the  occasion  of  this,  his  llrst 
jiitroiluetion  to  the  rea(h!r. 

I'licas,  a  sachem  of  the  ^rohecrans,  whotn  w(^  have  be- 
['nw  mentioned  as  forming  a  portion  of  the  l'c(piot  tribe, 
had,  some  time  jirevious  to  the  events  which  we  are  now 
ri'conling,  rebelled  against  the  arithority  of  Sassacus,  his 
superior  sachem,  to  wIh^ii  lie  was  con?i(X't(Ml  by  tits  of 
alliiiity  and  relationship. 

He  is  (h>sci'ibed  as  having  been  a  man  of  great  strength 
and  coui'age,  ])ut  grasping,  cunning,  atnl  treacherous,  and 
pessesscd  of  little  of  that  magnanimity  which,  though 
counterbalanced  by  faults  pecidiar  to  liis  race,  distinguished 
his  iinjtlacable  f<je,  ^liaiitonimo  the  Narragansctt. 

Witii  his  followers,  a  portion  of  whom  wer(>  >fohegans, 
and  the  rest,  as  is  supposed,  Iixlians  from  the  districts  on 
the  Connecticut,  who  had  joined  themselves  to  his  fortunes, 
I'licas  now  inade  common  cause  with  the  whites  a;rainst 
his  own  nation.  Gardiner,  the  commandant  at  Saybrook, 
to  test  his  fidelity,  dispatclied  hitn  in  pursuit  of  a  small 
pany  of  hostile  Indians,  \vliose  position  he  had  ascertained. 
I  ncas  aeeo'nplished  his  mission,  killing  a  portion  of  them, 
aiid  returning  with  one  prisoner,  'idiis  ea}>tive  the  In- 
dian.i'  were  allowed  by  the  English  to  torture  to  death,  antl 
iliey  proceeded  to  pidl  him  asunder,  fastening  one  leg  to 


I  ! 


m 


H 


iH 


\'t 


I  • 


) 

i     t 

} 

(  1 

M 


I  I '  II 


i-l 


i  I 


i  . 


m^'tm 


Ml  'i 


21G 


IXDIAX  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


a  post,  and  tying  a  ro])0  to  the  otlicr,  of  which  they  laid 
hold.  LTndoi'hill,  clscwhero  characterized  as  a  "bold,  bad, 
TiKiu,"  had,  on  tliis  occasion,  the  humanity  to  shorten  the 
torment  of  the  victim  by  a  })istol-shot. 

The  plan  of  campaign  adc^pted  by  Mason,  aRcr  iuikjIi 
debate,  was  to  sail  Ibr  the  country  of  the  Narragansetts, 
and  there  disembarking,  to  come  upon  the  enemy  by  land 
from  an  unex])ected  direction. 

Canonicus  and  ^Vfiantonimo  received  the  party  in  ;i 
fritnidly  manner,  ap}ji'oving  the  design,  but  prolVeriiig  uu 
aijsistance. 

Intelligence  was  here  received  of  the  aj)proaeh  of  Cap- 
tain Patjnek  and  his  men  from  Massachusetts,  but  ^[asnn 
determined  to  lose  no  time  by  waiting  for  their  arriyal. 
lest  information  of  the  movement  should  in  the  meantime 
reach  the  camp  of  the  Pcquots.  The  next  (hiy,  therelbn', 
which  was  the  dlli  of  June,  the  vessels,  in  Avliich  the  com- 
I)any  had  arrived  from  Saybrook,  set  sail  for  Pequot  riyer, 
manned  by  a  icw  whites  and  Indians,  while  the  niaiii 
body  ])rocceded  on  their  march  across  the  country.  About 
sixty  Indians,  led  hy  Uncas,  were  of  the  party. 

A  large  bcxly  of  Narragansetts  and  Nehanties  attended 
thein  on  their  march,  at  one  time  to  the  number,  as  was 
suppcjsed,  of  nearly  live  liundred.  In  Indian  style,  tliey 
made  great  demonstration  of  valor  and  determinati';:! :  I'lit 
as  they  a})pioached  the  head-quarters  of  the  terrible  trilu! 
that  had  held  them  so  long  in  awe,  their  hearts  began  to 
fail.  Many  slunk  awav,  and  of  those  who  still  hunu'  in 
the  rear,  none  but  Uncas  and  Wcquash,  a  Nehantic  saelie  n, 
were  ready  to  share  in  the  danger  of  the  first  attack. 

The  Pequ(jt  camp  was  upon  the  summit  of  a  liii;li 
rounded  hill,  still  known  as  Tequot  hill,  in  the  ])resent 
town  of  Ciroton,  and  was  considered  by  the  Indians  as 
impreg'.iable.     The  ])eople  of  Sassaeus  had  seen  the  l-ing- 


H 


V.:"''  I   ■ff>i  '■■' 


11 

1 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


217 


lisli  vessels  pass  by,  and  supposed  that  danger  was  for  the 
pret^cnt  averted.  After  a  great  feast  and  danee  of  exulta- 
tion at  their  safety  and  success,  the  camp  was  sunk  in 
sleep  and  silence,  ^fason  and  his  men,  who  had  encamped 
among  some  rocks  near  the  head  of  ^^ystic  river,  aj> 
proaelied  the  Pequot  fortification  a  little  before  day,  on 
the  otli  of  June. 

The  alarm  was  first  given  l)y  the  barking  of  a  dog, 
followed  by  a  eiy  from  some  one  within,  of  "Owanux, 
O'.vanu.x." — the  Iiuhan  term  for  Knglislmien — upon  which 
the  besiegers  rushed  foi'ward  to  the  attack. 

The  fort  was,  as  usual,  inclosed  with  thick  ])alisades,  a 
narrow  entrance  being  left,  which  Avas  barred  by  a  pile  of 
lir'ishwood.  breaking  through  this,  Mason  and  his  com- 
[laiiions  fell  upon  the  startled  Pequots,  and  maintained  for 
H)iiie  time  an  uncertain  hand  to  hand  conflict,  until,  all 
(irdcr  being  lost,  he  came  to  the  savage  detci'inination  to 
live  the  wigwams.  I'liis  was  done,  and  the  dry  matoriiils 
of  which  these  rude  dwellings  were  com])oscd  blazed  with 
tearful  rapidity. 

The  warriors  fought  desperately,  but  their  bow-strings 
snapped  fi'om  the  heat,  and  the  Naj'i'agansctts,  now  coniimr 
u]),  killed  all  who  attempted  to  escape.  The  scene  within 
was  horrible  beyond  description,  ^i'he  whole  number 
destroyed  (mostly  by  the  flames)  was  suj)posed  to  be  over 
loin-  hundred,  no  small  portion  of  which  consisted  of 
women  and  chikb'en. 

The  spirit  of  the  times  cannot  be  better  portrayed  tl;;.n 
hy  citing  the  description  of  this  tragedy  given  by  ^forton: 
"At  this  time  it  was  a  fearful  siirht  to  see  them  thus  frv- 
iiig  in  the  fire,  and  the  streams  of  blood  quenching  the 
same;  and  horrible  was  the  stiidc  and  scent  thereof;  Init 
the  victorv  seemed  a  sweet  sacrifice,  and  thev  ti:avc  the 
praise  thereof  to  God,  who  had  wrought  so  wonderfully 
lur  them,  thus  to  enclose  their  enemies  in  their  hands,  and 


'  t\ 


m  ■!!!■■  I 


^  ■'! 


M.:t  \i 


'h 


HI.  ■ 

'    I 


l^t' 


218 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEIilCA. 


give  them  so  spccdj  a  victory  over  so  proud,  insulting  aii(1 
l)las})licmous  an  enemy."  Dr.  Increase  Mather^  in  much 
the  same  vein,  says:  "This  day  we  brought  six  hundred 
Indian  souls  to  hell." 

In  looking  hack  upon  this  massacre,  although  niucii 
allowance  must  be  made  for  the  rudeness  of  the  ago,  nm! 
the  circumstances  of  terror  and  anxiety  which  surrouiidid 
the  early  settlers,  yet  we  must  confess  that  here,  as  on 
other  occasions,  they  exhibited  the  utmost  unscrupulmis- 
ness  as  to  the  means  by  which  a  desired  end  should  !ie 
accom{)lished. 

''J'he  loss  of  the  altacking  party  in  this  engagement  Avas 
trifling  in  the  extreme,  only  two  of  their  number  bein;: 
killed,  and  about  twenty  wounded.  Captain  Pati'ick  with 
his  soldiers  from  Massachusetts,  did  not  reach  the  scene 
of  action  in  time  to  take  part  in  it — Underbill,  howevei'. 
with  twenty  men,  Avas  of  the  i)arty. 

The  result  of  this  conflict  was  fatal  to  the  Pequots  as  a 
nation,  vVftcr  a  few  unavailing  attempts  to  revenge  their 
wrongs,  they  burned  their  remaining  camp,  and  com- 
menced their  flight  to  the  haunts  of  their  forefathers  at 
the  westwaixb 

They  were  closely  pursued  by  the  whites  and  their 
Indian  allies,  and  hunted  and  destroyed  like  wild  beasts. 
'J'he  last  importtint  engagement  was  in  a  swamp  at  Fairlichl. 
where  they  were  completely  overcome.  Most  of  the  war- 
riors were  slain,  fighting  bravely  to  the  last,  and  the  women 
and  children  were  distributed  as  servants  among  tlio 
colonists  or  shipped  as  slaves  to  the  West  Indies;  "We 
send  the  male  children,"  says  Winthrop,  "to  Burmuda,  hv 
^Nfr.  William  Pierce,  and  the  women  and  maid  children 
are  dispersed  about  in  the  towns."  It  ^"s  satisfactory  to 
reflect  that  these  wild  domestics  proved  rather  a  source 
of  annoyance  than  service  to  their  enslavers. 

Sassacus,  Mononotto,  and  a  few  other  Pequot  warriors, 


he  so  assiduo 


zU 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


219 


Buccceded  in  efTecting  their  escape  to  the  ^foliawks,  who, 
however,  put  the  sachem  and  most  of  his  companions  to 
(l-ath,  cither  to  obHgc  the  English  or  the  Xarragansctts. 
;      The  mcmhers  of  the  tribe  who  still  remained  in  Con- 
necticut, were  fnally  brought  into  complete  subjection. 
Many  of  them  joined   the  forces  of  the  now  powerful 
Uncus;  others  were  distributed  between  the  Xarragansctts 
j  and  Mohegans;    and  no  small  number  were  taken  and 
'   deliberately  massacred.  , 

Tlie  colonial  authorities  demu^^ded  that  all  Pequots  who 
had  been  in    any  way   concerned  in   shedding   English 

blood  should  be  slain,  and  Uncas  had  no  small  diHicultv 
I  .         .  .  .  .    . " 

!   in  retaining  his  useful  allies,  and  at  the  same  time  satisiy- 

I  ing  tlie  powerful  strangers  whose  patronage  and  2)r:jtection 

he  so  assiduously  courted. 


I  CHAPTER   III. 

QUARRELS    BETWKKN    THE    NAURAGANSETTS     AND     MOHF.GANS 

UNCAS  AND    MIANTO.NIMO — THE    MOHECiAN    LAND  CON- 
{  TROVERSY — SUBSEQUENT  CONDITION  OF  THE 

I  PEQUOTS    AND    MOHEGANS. 

A  SMALL  body  of    .le  Pequots  made  one  more  futile 
I  attempt  to  settle  in  their  old  country;  but  a  company  was 
sent  against  them,  and  they  were  driven  off;  their  provi- 
!  sions  were  plundered,  and  their  wigwams  destroyed. 

The  destruction  of  this  powerful  tribe  left  a  large  extent 
of  country  unoccupied;  to  no  small  portion  of  which 
Uncas  laid  claim  by  virtue  of  his  relationship  to  Sassacus. 
j  The  j)o\ver  and  influence  of  this  subtle  and  warlike  chief 
had  l)ccoine,  by  this  time,  vastly  extended,  not  otdy  by 
tivaty  and  alliiuice  with  the  EuH/peans,  but  by  continual 
addition  to  the  number  of  his  warriors;  as  many  strag- 


i ' 

m 

1 

m 

1 ..  i 

3    ■ 


I    ! 


!.^=. 


220 


INDIAN   llACES  OF  AMERICA. 


gliiig  J^cquots,  and  waiulcrcrs  from  other  triljcs,  were 
eager  to  join  his  rising  fortiines. 

Between  him  and  Miantonimo,  old  feelings  of  jealousy, 
rivalry,  and  national  antipathy  were  now  aroused  iuicw 
In'  various  aets  of  ])etty  hostihty  and  mutual  ticacluMv, 
I'neas  and  his  followers  suececded  in  exeitivig  in  the  niimU 
of  the  English  a  deep  and  abiding  mistrust  of  tlit;  Nana- 
gansetts,  whieh  Miantonimo,  upon  repeated  eitalions  hJuic 
the  Court  at  Plymouth,  was  unable  wholly  to  reni()v.\ 
His  wisdom,  eautiousness,  and  sagaeity,  exeited  the  ail- 
miration  of  all  who  heard  him,  but,  with  all  his  Im  t,  lie 
failed  to  convince  the  authorities  of  his  good  faith  aiul 
innocent  intentions. 

Tiie  animosity  of  the  t/wo  chiefs  at  last  broke  out  iutu 
open  hostilities.  Miantonimo,  accompanied,  as  was  com- 
puted, by  over  nine  hundred  warri(jrs,  eame  suddenly 
upon  Uncas,  M'ho  was  supported  by  only  about  half  lliat 
number  of  effective  followers.  I^efore  joining  battle,  the 
Mohegan  sachem  challenged  his  opponent  to  single  cuinhat, 
jiroposing  that  the  vanquished  party  should,  with  hisnua, 
submit  to  the  victor. 

Miantonimo  refusing  to  accede  to  this  proposal,  Uncas, 
according  to  a  preconcerted  signal,  prostrated  himself;  and 
his  warriors,  d'scharginga  flight  of  arrows,  rushed  forward 
with  such  imj)etuosity  that,  despite  the  disparity  of  num- 
bers, they  CO' nj)letely  routed  the  Narragansetts,  and  drove 
them  from  the  field. 

The  chief  of  the  invaders  was  taken  prisoner  in  his 
flight  by  Uncas  himself,  assisted  by  two  other  warriors. 
lie  had  been  impeded  in  his  motions  by  an  old  corslet, 
a  piece  of  defensive  armor  which  had  been  presented  to 
him  by  an  English  friend,  but  which  proved  fatal  to  him. 
Seeing  that  resistance  w\as  hojieless,  he  seated  himself  ujton 
the  ground,  with  true  Indian  stoicism  and  silence. 

Uncas  took  his  prisrner  to  Ilartlbrd,  and  requested  tho 


NEW  ENfJLAND  INDIANS. 


221 


g.' 


aiU'ice  of  iho  authorities  as  to  Avliat  course  lie  should  ])ur- 
6UC  respect iii^^^  hiin.     ^I'hey  referreil  the  question   to  the 

iH'ial  court  of  eomnussioucrs  for  New  Knglaml,  wliieii 
at  at  iioslon,  in  Septt.'inher  (l(>4."5).  The  court,  unwilling 
ti)  urKlcrtake  the  ivsponsibility  of  ordering  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  eajitive,  submitted  the  matter  to  the  decision 
oitiie  clergy,  then  in  higji  council  at  the  same  city.  Tlie.se 
W(ji'iliies,  less  S('ru{)ulous  than  the  laity,  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  his  life  must  pay  the  forfeit  of  his  attacks 
ujioii  I'liciis,  and  his  general  turlmlence,  not  to  iiKMition 
the  fict  that  he  had,  in  one  instance,  beaten  a  followci-  of 
asaclicin  wlu)  was  alli('(l  to  the  Knglish! 

l!ic  unfortunate  saehern  was  therefcre  rcdelivei'cd  into 
the  liaiids  of  the  ^^ohegans  for  execution,  and  two  of  the 
Kiiulish  were  appointed  to  attend  the  ])roeeeding,  and  see 
that  li(!  was  put  to  death  without  torture.  'J'here  is  some 
(li-i'n'paticy  in  the  accounts  as  to  the  place  where  Minnto- 
niiiio  met  his  fate,  but  it  a])])ears  to  have  been  in  tlie 
tnwiisliij)  of  Norwich,  where  a  ])ile  of  stones  was  long 
after  pointed  out  as  marking  his  grave.  Tlie  nianiu;r  of 
\\\<  (l(\ith  was  this:  Uncas,  with  his  brother,  \Vawe(iua,  and 
a  party  of  other  Indians,  accom})anied  by  the  two  whites, 
Was  le.'iiling  his  prisoner  along  a  j)ath,  when,  at  a  silent 
siiiiial  iidin  the  chief,  Wawequa  buried  his  tomahnwk  in 
tlieskiill  of  the  ea])tive  from  behind.  It  is  said  that  Tncas 
cut  a  jiortion  of  flesh  from  the  shoulder  of  his  fallen  ru- 
oiuy,  avid  eat  it,  declaring  that  it  was  the  "sweetest  meat 
lie  ever  eat;  it  made  his  heart  strontr." 

Tlie  Xarraransetts  lamented  bitterlv  over  the  untimelv 
cnfl  of  their  famous  and  beloved  sachem,  and  eomplainod 
of  thf  treachery  of  Uncas,  averring  that  large  quant  iti(\^  ol' 
waiiipmn  had  been  sent  as  ransom  to  the  Mohegans,  ami 
fippiopriuted  by  them,  regardless  of  the  conditions  attciid- 
iiig  its  mission. 

Pessacus,  a  brother  of  Miantonimo,  continued  to  make 


i       -^ 


■'  I 


{■•  . 


ll. 


Iri.-     ! 

:--\ 

a 

\ 

.^it. 

il 

If 


I  t 


■ 

'( 

( 

ill 

i 

lt      111 

1 

.ldifll 

ii  H 

m 

!            '''.:  )llll||l(l||b  V 

! 

w 

'1 

r 

1 

.  <  t- 

d 

'1 

!'■'' 

■: 

l. 


2'>2 

*^  aid  M 


INDIAN  liACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


trouhlosonie  inroads  upon  tlic  Moliegun  domains,  Imt  tlie 
iMiglish  still  iield  L'uc;is  in  fuvor,  and  warnt-d  the  Xarra- 
!j,'ansctts  that  they  would  HU])iJort  him  should  ho  iV(|iiirc 
their  aid. 

in  1(1-14,  tlic  com])laints  and  mutual  recriminations  of  tlic 
rival  tribes  were  heard  and  examined  by  the  comniissiDncrs 
of  the  colonies,  who  decided  that  Pcssacus  had  not  jh-ovimI 
hischarges,  and  enlbrced  a  temporary  treaty.  This  was  soon 
violated  by  the  Narragansetts,  who  continued  their  dfjuv. 
dations  as  heretofore;  and  in  the  ensuing  sj)ring,  Pessacn.-. 
having  done  grcitt  danuigc  to  his  opponent  by  })red;tti)rv 
excursions,  finally  besieged  him  in  a  fort  on  the  TliaiiifH, 
whci'e  he  would  j)robably  have  reduced  him  b}'  faniiue,  li;ul 
not  supplies  been  secretly  furnished  by  certain  of  the  Knglisli. 

'J'he  tvrauny  and  exactions  of  Uncas  over  the  Pcouots 
who  had  become  subject  to  him,  aroused  their  indignation; 
while  his  treachery  towards  his  own  jieople,  and  allianco 
with  the  whites,  secured  him  the  hostility  of  every  nei^;]i- 
boring  tribe,  lie  was  engaged  in  })erpetual  cpiarrcis  with 
Ninigret,  a  celebrated  Nehantic  sachem;  with  Scquasscn, 
whose  authority  at  an  earlier  date  extended  over  tlie 
^funxis  tribe,  at  the  westward  of  the  Connecticut;  and 
with  the  grieved  and  revengeful  Narragansetts. 

AVhenever  these  interminable  disputes  Avere  broii,L^lit 
before  the  court  of  the  New  England  commissioners,  the 
decisions  of  that  body  appear  to  have  favored  the  Mo- 
hegan.  Assisted  b>y  the  counsel  of  a  crafty  and  subtle 
Indian,  named  h'oxun  or  Poxen,  who  served  him  in  the 
capacity  of  chief  advocate  and  adviser,  and  whose  wisdom 
and  sagacity  were  widely  noted,  he  generally  managed  to 
exjdain  away  his  iniquities;  at  least  so  far  as  to  satisfy ati 
audience  already  prejudiced  in  liis  favor.  When  his  crimes 
were  not  to  be  concealed,  a  reprimand  and  caution  were 
generally  the  extent  of  his  punishment. 

On  the  other  hand,  when  suspicions  arose  against>the  Xar- 


Binameiit.  a  P 


'  ;;t 


IMJlANS  OF  M;\V   KN(il.ANI). 


223 


raLiaiiHCtts,  the  most  prompt  juid  violent  proceedings  were 
ivsoiteil  to:  the  payment  ol'aii  inimeiise  amount  of  wampum 
was  exacted;  the  delivery  o['  hosla^Lio;  IVom  among  the 
[iiiiicipal  people  of  the  trihe  was  demanded;  and  tlireats  of 
war  and  extermination  were  used  to  humble  and  huuiil- 
iate  them. 

In  Se])tend)er,  lOoo,  u  few  of  the  scattered  I'd  plots  who 
had  not  joined  the  forces  of  Uncus,  were  allowed  a  resting- 
place  by  the  commissioners,  uj)on  a  {)ortion  (jf  the  south- 
eastern sea-coast  of  Connecticut,  and  their  existence  as  a 
separate  tribe  was  formally  acknowledged. 

This  little  remnant  of  the  crushed  anil  overthrown  na- 
tion, had  been,  for  some  time,  under  the  guidance  of  two 
gelf-constitutcd  sachems,  one  connaotd}'  called  Robin  Cas- 
sinament.  a  Tecpiot,  and  the  other  Cushawashet,  u  nej>hew 
of  Xiuigret,  known  among  the  Knglish  as  llermon  Garret. 

They  hail  formed  small  settlements  u}K)n  the  tract  now 
allotted  to  them,  which  they  were  allowed  to  retain  npon 
payment  of  tribute,  in  wampum,  to  the  colonies,  and  the 
adoption  of  a  prescribed  code  of  laws.  'J'hcir  governors 
were  to  be  chosen  by  the  hhiglish;  and  Cushawashet  and 
;  Cas.sinament  received  the  lirst  a])j)ointinent. 

It  will  rca<lily  be  })erccivcd  to  what  an  extent  the  power 
and  control  of  tlie  colonists  over  the  aifairs  of  the  Indians 
in  their  vicinity,  had  increased,  even  at  this  early  ])ei'i(jd. 
The  natives  were  now  glad  to  settle  down  under  the  pr<jtec- 
tioii  of  their  masters;  to  pay  yearly  tribute  as  amemls  for 
former  hostilities;  and  to  hire  the  lands  of  which  they  had 
htvn  so  short  a  time  previous  the  nndistuibed  posse.s.sors. 

It  is  pitiful  to  read  of  the  coar.se  coats,  the  shovels,  the 
:  hoes,  the  knives,  and  jewsdrarps,  in  exchange  for  which 
they  had  parted  with  their  broad  lands.  Utterly  improvi- 
dent, and  incapable  of  foreseeing,  '^r  hopeless  of  averting 
the  a.sccndancy  of  the  whites,  they  yielded  to  their  exac- 
tions, and  submitted  to  their  dictation. 


'.IIM  f!    I- 

m 


i 


^'\ 


lu\ 


U'      y 

*\ 

*ili 

11 

,  ■  -^'^-^»^  -^ 

w 

)    ! 


i*  u\ 


^ 


i 


00  i 


INDIAN'    HACKS   OF    AMKUICA. 


Sauntcriiii^  iiidoleiitly  about  tlu;  Ht'tllciruMits,  luid  wnstiiio 
thiMr  eiier<^M(!S  l»y  excess  in  tlio  use  of*  the  iiovi'l  ineatis  nf 
excitement  on'ered  \.y  ".stron,^  waters,"  tlu'y  lost  iinicli  (,f 
that  native  ]iri<l(>,  di^irnity,  ami  sclC-resjH'ct  wliicii  tlisiju. 
guished  them  when  iiifci'cc^ursc  with  li)i'eigiiers  lirst  cdiii- 
mcnced.  Their  munbers,  which  a])i)ear  tohavcbecMi  qrosslv 
exaggerated,  even  in  their  most  flourishing  days,  were 
rapidly  diminishing;  their  game  was  becoming  scarce: 
and  the  refinements  and  comfbi'ts  of  civilization,  riidr  in- 
deed as  comi)ared  to  what  now  exists,  presented  to  th.ir 
eyes  at  the  white  settlements,  ojdy  aggravated  the  con. 
Ficiousness  of  their  own  jjoverty  and  distress. 

The  'i'unx's  and  Podunk  Indians,  who  inhabited  ritlier 
side  of  the  (,^onn(M't ieiit,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Knglisli  set- 
tlements; the  C^uinnipiaes  on  the  sound,  where  New  Ihivrn 
nowstands;  the  Xehaiitics,  tothecastward  of  the  river;  imd 
the  feeble  Pequot  settlement,  were  sul)jcct  to,  or  in  ellrct, 
under  the  control  of  the  colonists:  Uncas  was  their  "frjiinl 
and  fast  ally;"  and  the  Narragansetts,  thougli  under  snsjij- 
cioii  of  various  treacherous  plans,  were  nominally  at  jx'aco 
with  the  whites,  and  quelled  l.)y  the  terror  of  their  arms. 

This  condition  of  affairs  continued,  with  the  cxcoptien 
of  the  great  and  final  struggle  between  the  colonists  nii^l 
the  natives,  known  as  Philip's  war — to  be  detailed  in  a  sm.'- 
ceeding  article — until  the  tleath  of  Uncas,  about  the  yrar 
1(W2.  lie  left  the  title  to  his  extensive  domains  iiivo'Ut'i] 
in  inextricable  confusion.  In  consequence  of  deeds  ami 
grants  from  himself  and  his  sons  Owenoco  and  Attawan- 
hood,  to  various  indivi(hials  among  the  white  settlers,  aii'l 
for  various  purposes,  the  effect  of  which  conveyances  wcii; 
])robably  unknown  to  the  grantors,  numerous  contradicleiy 
claims  arose.  The  same  tracts  were  made  over  to  dililivnt 
persons;  o!ic  grant  would  extend  over  a  hu'ge  j)ortieii  ef 
another;  and,  to  crown  all,  Uncas,  in  the  year  KS.V,',  Iiad 
aliened  his  whole  possessions  by  deed,  regularly  Avitncssoil, 


NKW  ENGLAND   IN'DIAXS. 


225 


t,i  .Tuliii  ^fasoii,  of  Noru'icli.  This  coiivoyancc  was  cvi- 
(k'Utlv  inti'iidcd  hy  tlio  siiclicin  incrcly  to  ('(.nrcr  a  ^i^ciicral 
[lOWcr  as  o\ci'si'i'r  or  ti'iistco  upon  a  laan  whom  he  cuii- 
siilci'f'l  as  lVioii<lIy  to  his  interests,  and  whose  kii(nvh'(li.re 
WdiiM  prove  a  protection  aj/ainst  thf  overi'\'ieliin'j,"  of  pro- 
iinsi'd  piirehasei's.  Aeeording  to  tln^  Ie(han  nndei'stand- 
in::  (if  the  transaetioii  was  the  (daiin  of  ^^ason  ami  his 
liciis,  \\\h)  arrogated  to  tlicinselves  no  further  interest  or 
authority  than  that  above  specified.  '^I'hc  ConmM'ticiit 
C"Iiinv,  liy  virtue  of  a  general  deed  of  "surrender  of  juiis- 
(Ijitioii,"  obtained  from  Mason,  insisted  on  an  unqualilied 
jirujicity  in  the  wliole  domain, 

Mwciioco  succeeded  hi.s  father  as  sachem  of  the  ^fohc- 
alls,  and  pursued  a  similar  course  to  secure  his  lands, 
cDiivcying  them  to  tlic  sons  of  Mason  as  trustees.  His 
huliaii  imjirovidcnce  and  intemperance  led  him  to  lii-j-e- 
LMi'd  this  arrantieincnt,  and  to  'jive  deeds  of  various  tracts 
iiicliidcil  in  the  trust  conveyance,  without  the  knowliNlgt; 
or  assent  of  the  overseer,  in  -Inly,  of  the  year  170b  in 
ci'lcr  to  settle  the  C(;nflicting  claims  of  the  whites  and  In- 
liiiiiis,  and  to  restore  to  the  tribe  the  [>oi'tio',is  illegally 
ohtained  from  them,  a  royal  commission  was  obtained  from 
Knirland,  bv  some  fri(Mids  of  the  ^tohc'ans,  to  examine 
and  settle  the  disputed  questions. 

The  colony  protested  against  the  jirocceding,  denying 
tlie  authority  of  tlie  crown  to  determine  upon  the  matter, 
and  refused  to  appear  before  the  commissioners.  The 
conduct  of  the  case  beini;  ex  pi(r('\  a  decision  was  <riven  in 
favor  of  the  ^fohc2rans,  restorincr  tli'Mu  to  a  vast  extent  ol" 
territory  allcdged  to  have  been  obtained  from  their  sachcms 
wlioa  intoxicated,  or  by  other  underdiand  and  iHegai 
courses.  From  this  decree  the  Connecticut  colony  ap- 
I'Caled,  and  a  new  commission  was  granted,  but  witli  no 
il  \isive  result,  and  the  case  remained  nn.settled  for  more 
liiaii  half  a  century  from  the  time  of  its  commciuxMnent. 
15 


iJl 


U: 


r 

I     ' 

■.,  1 

t   c 


^:;i^  i 


'H'-' 


■-:i 


22G 


INDIAN    KACKS  OK  AMKKICA. 


II 


i      t 


Owonoco  lived  to  nil  u'lvaiia'd  ago,  bciX)ininrr,  In  r.i>r  1,1^ 
death,  a  lieljile.s.s  meiidieant,  and  subsisting,  in  e()iii[iaiiv 
witli  lii.-J  i-'(iiuiw,  upon  the  liospitaiity  of  the  iieiglilioiii,;^ 
settleiu     His  so!i  Cu'sar  was  his  suceessor  as  saehrni. 

r)on,  tho  youngest  son  of  I'neas,  oC  illegitirniite  hirtii, 
succeeded  C;esar,  to  the  exclusion  oC  the  rightlUl  ln'jr 
young  Maniohct,  a  grandson  of  Owenoeo. 

Mason  now  renewed  his  elaiins,  and,  aecotnjiauicd  i.v 
his  two  sons,  carricnl  ^faintjhet  to  Kngland,  that  he  mi-lit 
])re.'jent  a  new  petition  to  the  reigning  inonareh.  A  iicw 
coiriinission  was  awarded,  but  both  the  a})plieants  (lit(l 
bel'oro  it  was  made  out.  When  the  trial  finally  came  on 
in  UoS,  distinguished  counsel  were  employed  on  hotli 
sides,  ill  antieij)ation  of  an  arduous  and  protracted  content; 
but  by  a  singular  course  of  collusion  and  artifice,  whieli 
it  wci'C  too  tedious  to  detail,  the  decision  of  17(*.3,  on  the 
iu'st  roinmission,  was  repealed,  and  the  Connecticut  claiiiiH 
supported.  'J'his  was  a])]joalcd  from  by  the  Masons,  ami 
good  cause  aj)pcaring,  a  new  trial  was  decreed. 

Kivc  commissioners,  men  of  note  from  New  York  ami 
Xcw  Jersey,  met  at  Norwich  in  the  summer  of  174o,  and 
the  great  case  brought  in  auditors  and  parties  in  interest 
IVom  far  and  near.  The  claims,  and  tho  facts  ofleRMl  in 
suj)port  of  them,  were  strangely  intricate  and  complex: 
counsel  appeared  in  behalf  of  four  sets  of  parties,  vi/.: 
the  Connecticut  colony;  the  two  claimants  of  the  title  d' 
Sachem  of  the  Mohegans,  Ikm  and  John,  a  descendant  o^ 
the  elder  branch;  and  those  in  possession  of  the  lamls 
in  fjucstion. 

The  decree  was  in  favor  of  the  colony,  which  was  sits- 
ta'ucd  on  the  concluding  examination  of  the  case  in 
Mngland.  'J\vo  of  tho  commissioners  dissented.  The 
!Nrohegans  still  retained  a  reservation  of  about  four  thou- 
Band  acres. 

Their  number  reduced  to  a  few  hundred;  distracted  bv 

7  » 


NEU'  EXCIAN'l)    INDIANS. 


227 


tlio  uncertain  tenure  of  their  ]M*opcrty,  ami  llic  claims  of 
tlic  rival  saclicMns;  minf^led  with  the  whites  in  contentions, 
I'lH'  merits  of  which  thev  were  lifth)  capahlo  of  eonipre- 
Ir'inliii.'i;  with  ilninkcnncss  ami  vit-e  pnn'aleiit  anion,:,' 
•hi'in;  liie  tribe  was  fast  dwindling  into  insignilieanet'. 
i;,  -ti'jrtive  laws,  forbidding  the  sale  of  ard(!nt  spirits  to  the 
Lilians,  were  then,  as  now,  but  of  little  cflect. 

of  the  celebrated  and  warlike  tribes  of  the  Mohegans 
;i;iil  J'e<piots,  only  a  few  misisrable  families  now  remain 
niiuii  their  ancient  territory.  Tiiese  are  mostly  of  mixed 
Miiu'l,  and  little  of  the  former  eharaeler  of  their  race  is  to 
l;.-'  seen  in  them  except  its  jiccaliar  vices.  They  are 
s'aiitily  supi>()rtcd  by  the  rents  of  the  lands  still  reserved 
;i!iil  a[)pro[)riatcd  to  their  use.  A  nund)er  of  the  Mohe- 
-HIS  removed  to  the  Oneida  district,  in  New  York,  some 
vcars  since,  but  a  few  still  remain  near  the  former  head- ' 
.[uarters  of  th(;ir  tribe,  and  individuals  among  them  retain 
the  names  of  sachems  and  warriors  noted  in  the  early 
aires  of  the  colonies. 

Much  interest  attaches  to  the  eilbrts  which  have  been 
iiaile  for  tlic  instruction  and  improvement  of  this  remnant 
h1'  the  Mohcgan  nation;  especially  as  connected  with  the 
l'iiii:Ta{)hy  of  Samuel  Occuni,  their  native  preacher;  one 
I'C  the  few  Indians  who  have  been  brought  under  the 
iiilhience  of  civilization,  and  have  acquired  a  liberal 
"■'Ineation. 

in  reviewing  the  character  and  history  of  these,  as  of 
most  of  the  native  tribes,  and  rcdecting  upon  their  steady 
;iiid  hojudess  decline  before  the  European  immigrants,  we 
cannot  but  feel  influenced  by  contradictory  sympathies, 
Tlujir  (n'uelties  strike  us  with  horror;  their  treacherv  and 
vices  disgust  us;  but,  with  all  this,  we  still  may  trace  the 
ti'kons  of  a  great  and  noble  spirit.  It  is  painful  to  reflect 
thattiiis  has  more  and  more  declined  as  their  communion 
with  tiie  whites  has  become  the  more  intimate.     They 


W'  r 


V' 


iMI^-  i 


,'  ; 
^  J  f. 


j  VI  ,  _ 

228 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKUIOA. 


linv(5  lost  their  nationality,  and  ■with  it  tlicir  jtriilr  uni] 
Hclf-rpspnct;  llio  s(iuali(l  and  p(>vcrty-.«tric;iaMi  ligimjs  liaiiL'- 
iiifjj  ul)()iit  tli(!  miscrahlo  hutH  tliey  inliabit,  convey  but  i\ 
faint  id(M  of  the  pictnro  tliat  the  nation  ]>r('sc'nt(Ml  wiicii  in 
a  purely  .sava;,'e  state;  w\\va\  the  vices  of  foreigners  had  imt. 
as  yet,  contaminated  them,  nor  their  snperior  power  ami 
knowledge  disheartened  them  by  the  contrast. 


CIIAI'TEK  IV, 

K  I  IV  G     PHILIP'S    WAR. 

THE  INDIANS  FUIINISIIKD  WITH   FIUK-AUMS SITUATION  OF  THE 

COLONISTS — riiii-ir's    accession — ins   treaties   with 

THE  whites — His  TIUJE  PI-ANS — EMMISSARIES  SENT 

TOSOGKONATE — CAI'TAIN  IlENJAMIN  CHUIiCII 

HIS  INTERVIEW  WITH   AWOSIIONKS — MUR- 
DER OK  JOHN   SASSAMON. 

The  events  of  which  we  shall  now  proceed  to  give  n 
brief  synopsis,  were  of  more  momentous  interest,  anil 
franght  with  more  deadly  ])eril  to  the  New  England  colo- 
nics, than  aught  that  had  preceded  them.  The  wild 
inhabitants  of  the  forest  had  now  become  far  more  danffi^r- 
ous  o])poncnts  than  when  they  relied  upon  their  rude  flint- 
headed  arrows,  or  heavy  stone  tomahawks,  as  the  only 
efhcicnt  weai)ons  of  offence.  Governor  Bradf)rd,  manv 
years  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  hostilities  which  we  ii)'' 
about  to  detail,  had  given  a  graphic  description  of  the  cflort 
j)roduced  upon  their  deportment  and  self-eonlidencchy  thf 
introduction  of  l^uropcan  weapons.  We  quote  from  Brad- 
ford's verse,  as  rendered  in  prose  in  the  appendix  to 
Davis'  edition  of  the  New  England  Memorial. 

"These  fierce  natives,"  says  he,  "are  now  so  furnished 


NKW   1:N(JI-ANI)  INDIANS. 


220 


with  gtwiH  ami  iiiiis<(U(!tM,  and  arc  so  skillrd  in  then'.,  tliat 
tlu'V  l<i'«"l»  til*!  I'-nglish  in  awe,  and  give  iIk!  law  to  tlicrn 
.vheii  tlicy  })loa.se;  and  of  powder  and  shot  they  hiivt;  such 
.'ihiiiidanec  tliat  soinctiines  they  refuse  to  buy  more.  I'iints, 
scrc'W-jthites,  and  moulds  for  all  soft-  of  »<h()t  they  have, 
.111(1  skill  li<»w  to  use  ihcin.  Thev  can  mend  and  new 
ftnck  their  jtieoes  as  well,  almost,  as  an  Mnglishman." 

Ilo  (leseribes  the  advantages  which  they  thus  obtain  '<i 
over  the  whites  in  the  })ursuit  of  game;  their  own  cd'i- 
sciousiioss  of  j)ower,  and  boasts  that  they  could,  when 
tlioy  j»loased,  "drive  away  the  EngHsh,  or  kill  tlieni;" 
iuul  finally  breaks  out  into  bitter  ujibraidings  against  tlu; 
fully  and  covetousness  of  the  traders  who  liad  snj>jilied 
tlirni  with  arms.  His  forebodings  were  truly  jjrophetie: 
•'\hiiiy,"  says  he,  "abhor  this  j)raetiee,"  (the  trade  in  aims 
and  aiiiinunilion,)  "whose  innocence  will  not  save  them 
if,  which  God  Ibrbid,  they  should  come  to  see,  by  this 
means,  some  sad  trageily,  when  these  heathen,  in  tiieir 
fiiiy,  sli.all  cruelly  shed  our  innocent  blood." 

Tiic  Knglish  settlements  were  small,  ill  di'iendcd,  and 
widely  scattered.  Whoever  is  acciuainted  with  ihe  i-ough 
iiatufc  of  the  New  I'higland  soil,  must  at  once  j)erceivo 
low  necessary  it  became  for  the  lirst  settlers  to  select  the 
[•liots  most  favorable  f(jr  cultivation,  and  what  an  iidios- 
pitable  wilderness  must  have  se])aratcd  their  small  and 
ill-protected  villages. 

The  whole  nundter  of  the  European  inhabitants  of 
New  Kngland,  in  1075,  when  the  memorabh;  Indian  war 
broke  out,  has  been  comj)Uted  at  about  fifty  thousand, 
which  would  give  an  eficctive  force  of  not  far  from  eight 
thousand  men. 

It  were  but  wild  conjecture  to  attem])t  a  comjaitation 
of  the  number  and  force  of  the  native  tribes  who  took 
part  in  the  war.  Old  historians  frequently  speak  j)ositively, 
and  in  round  numbers,  when  enumerating  the  aborigines; 


t. 


M 


1 


J^^' 


ii' 


S'S^ 


!i 


?     i' 


''.  ^ 


»   -f*' 


230 


INDIAN    IJACES  OF  AMERICA. 


but,  in  many  iiistiiiifcs,  \vc  c-aii   jH-ivcivt",  with   tolemblo 
certainty,  that  tliej  have  been  j^uUty  ol'^n'oss  exagu-eialion 
sueh  as  the  whole  eireunistaners  of  their  intereuui'sr  with 
the  savages  would  naturally  lead  to. 

All  eiieiuy  whose  ap})earanee  was  sudiltMi  and  uiicx- 
[loeted;  who,  in  secret  ambuseado  or  niidni-_;ht  a.-s;iii!t, 
used  eve  _>'  device  to  increase  the  teri'or  and  bewildciiiiri.t 
of  their  victims,  might  well  be  over  estimated  b\-  tin^su 
whose  all  was  at  stake,  and  who  were  waiting  in  li.nrul 
uncertainty  as  to  where  the  danger  lay,  or  whtu  ilicv 
should  next  be  called  to  resist  it. 

In  1(!(;2,  i'liilij),  ^retacomet  or  Pomctaconi,  as  we  liavc 
already  seen,  succeeeled  his  brother  Alexander,  witliin  ;i 
lew  months  of  the  death  oi' their  father,  Massasoit.  \'\>nu 
the  occasion  of  liis  assuming  the  dignity  of  saeheiu  mvi  r 
the  \Vam})anoags,  there  was  a  great  collection  of  sacln'iii.s 
and  wai-riors  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  to  unite  in  a 
feast  of  rejoicing  at  Mount  Hope,  where  he  held  his  ntint. 

Although  the  new  chief  renewed  his  treaty  with  tl..' 
Knglish,  and  for  nine  years  after  his  accession  mad'  1,0 
open  demonstrations  (^f  hostility,  yet  his  mind  ajipiars 
from  the  first  to  have  been  aliened  from  the  intniil.'is. 
Whether  from  anger  at  the  i)roeeedings  attendant  011  tho 
death  of  his  brother,  or  from  sympathy  with  his  injuivil 
allies,  the  Narragansetts,  or  that  his  natural  saga<'itv  sim- 
gested  to  him  the  ruin  wdiich  must  lidl  upon  his  jieople  1  v 
the  spread  of  the  whites;  certain  it  is  that  his  feelings  of 
enmity  were  nourished  and  brooded  over,  long  belniv 
their  fmal  exhibition. 

Tiike  his  father  before  him,  he  never  inclined  an  ear  to 
the  teachings  of  the  Christian  religion.  Mather  mentions 
a  signal  instance  of  his  eontem])t  for  this  sjiecii's  of  in- 
struction. The  celebrated  preacher,  Kliot,  had  ex))ounili'iI 
the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  and  urged  their  accejitaiic 
upon  riiilip,  with  his  usual  zeal  and  sincerity;  but  ihu 


NK'.V  EXGLANI)   TNDTAXS. 


281 


sn('lu'ni,i.ip]iroacliii\i^  liitn,  aiul  laying  liold  of  :i  lnitt()u  on 
his  ivat,  lolil  liiiii  that  he  cared  no  more  lor  liia  Clospel 
tli;in  for  that  hutton. 

ill  tlic  year  ItiTi,  Philip  made;  grievous  comjilaiiits  of 
tivspassos  upon  ihe  jtjant  ing-lands  ol'his  people:  aecordiiig 
\.)  llul>l>ar<l,  "tlu'  d<'vil,  who  was  a  inurdercu'  iVoni  tin' 
bopinning,  had  so  lilled  the  heart  of  this  savage  misereant 
with  envy  and  nialiec  against  the  English,  that  ho  was 
ivadv  to  break  out  into  open  war  against  the  inhabitants 
dt'  riyniouth,  ]»retending  some  ti'ilhng  injuries  done  him 
in  his  plautingdand." 

Tiiis  matter  was  for  the  time  settled,  the  eon  hunts 
lint  ;i}ipeai'ing  to  the  e(jlouial  authorities  to  be  satislac- 
t'lrilv  substantiated.  A  uu'eting  was  bi'ought  about,  in 
April,  1(171,  at  Taunton,  between  I'hilip,  aceonipunied  by 
;i  party  oC  his  wa.rriors,  in  war  paint  and  hostile  trapjungs. 
ainl  eoimnissioners  from  Massaehusett.s,  The  Indian  ehief. 
unable  to  aeeount  Ibr  the  hostile  j)ivparaf ions  in  which  he 
was  })roved  to  have  been  engaged,  became  eonfusv'd,  and 
jierliajis  intimidated.  He  not  only  acknowledged  himself 
ill  the  wrong,  and  that  the  lebcllion  originated  in  the 
"naughtiness  of  his  own  heart,''  but  renewed  his  submis- 
'^itin  to  the  king  of  Kngland,  and  agreed  to  sunx-nder  a!! 
his  English  arms  to  the  government  of  New  Plymouth, 
"to  be  ke])t  as  long  as  they  shouUl  see  reason."  in  pursu- 
ance of  this  clause,  the  guns  brought  by  himself  and  the 
party  who  wei'e  with  iiim  were  delivtu'cd  uji. 

The  colonists,  now  thoroughly  alarmed,  made  clToils 
ilming  the  succeeding  sununer  to  deprive  the  neighboring 
trilies  of  arms  and  ammunition,  making  furthei"  prohibitory 
enactments  as  to  the  trade  in  these  artii^h's.  l'hili[)  having 
failed  to  carry  out  his  ag"reemv.Mit  to  surrender  his  weaj^ons. 
the  Plymouth  government  ivferred  the  n)att"r  to  the 
:intIiorities  of  Massachusetts;  but  I'hilip,  n^paii'ing  himself 
t'l  Postoii,   excited  some  feeling   in    his   favor,   and    the 


i 

g 

m 

1 

m 

i 

M 


«        :X- 


\W    'W 


3::=iz;i 


232 


INDIAN  UACES   OF  A.MEUICA. 


cliiiius  of  Plyiiioutli  were  not  fully  nsscutcd  to.  Ancjllicr 
tix^aty  was  eoiicli.ulcd  in  the  ensuing  September,  wlM'ehy 
IMiiiij)  agived  to  pay  errtain  stipulated  eosts;  to  e()n>iiUT 
himself  subjeet  to  the  king  vi'  JMigiand  ;  to  eonsult  t'i;c  ' 
governor  of  J  My  mouth  in  the  disi)osal  of  his  lands,  as  a'.M) 
in  the  making  of  war;  to  render,  if  })raeticable.  five  wc^Ivrs' 
heads  yearly;  and  to  I'efer  all  dilfei'enees  and  causes  (f 
qiiai'rel  to  the  deeision  of  the  governor.  The  arms  put  in 
[)ossessiou  of  the  English  at  the  time  of  tlic  mceiinu'  in 
April,  were  deelared  forfeit,  and  eonfiseated  by  the  V\\- 
mouth  government. 

There  ean  be  but  little  doubt  as  to  Philip's  nujtivf  {'<>: 
signing  these  artieles.     Feelings  of  enmity  and  revciiLt; 
towards  the  whites  had  obtained  eomj)lete  jiossession  (,f 
him,  and  he  evidently  wished  mei-ely  lo  ([uiet  sus]iii:liiii 
and  avert  inquiry.      It  is  almost  univei-sally  allowed  that 
he  had  long  formed  a  deep  and  settled  j)lan  to  externiii.itt'  j 
the  white  settlers,  and,  in  pursuanee  of  it,  had  nuuK'  li.e  \ 
of  all  his  powers  of  artful  })ersuasion  in  his  interedursc 
with  the  surrounding  tribes.     The  time  for  a  gcnrral  lin-  - 
rising  was  said  to  have  been  fi.xetl  a  year  later  tliau  tlio 
])eriod  when  hostilities  aetually  eommene<d,  and  the  )if 
mature  development  of  the  eons{)ii'aey,  brought  alxnu  in 
a  manner  to  whieh  we  shall  pn.'sently  advert,  has  bi  tu  , 
considered  the  salvation  of  the  eoh^nies. 

ilul^bard,  imU>ed,  who  is  ever  unwilling  to  allow  tii:it 
the  Indians  were  })osscssed  of  any  good  or  desirable  (jual:- 
tics,  anil  wlu)  can  see  no  wrong  in  a.uv  of  the  ouirii^s^t  s  i.t'  , 
the  whites,  suggests  that  Philip's  heart  "would  lia\c  l';iil>d 
him,  had  he  not  been  pressed  on  to  the  Uiideit;ikiii,u'  ly 
foree  of  eireumstanees.  lie  tells  us  that,  when  the  ,i:rt;,t 
saeheni  sueeumbcd  to  the;  English  demaiuls,  in  the  sjiiinu' 
previous,  "one  of  his  captains,  of  far  better  courage  ii'i'l 
resolution  than  himself,  when  he  saw  his  cowar<lly  tciiij'<r 
ami  disposition,  llunu'  down  his  arms,  ealliiiLr  him  a  wliiiC' 


A  I  .\  <j    r  II 1 1.  ./' 


1 

I'. 

-w... 

! 

1    '  . 

f  i 


! 

m 

W\ 

.^i* 

k  -^w  ' 

i 


:(.    -..i^ 


livcrcJ  cur  ■ 

j    never  own  li 

i    time,  liatli  tu 

:  this  tlay,  a  fii 

|,       Philip  luid 

iii'i|uaiutecl  w 

ii!ty  years  i\\ 

euluiii.-ts  and 

I '  to  adopt  the  ( 

!    iintiee,  were 

I    lin'iase.lvorf  ol 

' '  liijiis  so  noarl 

J  0  rouHe  a 

stniiryle;  to  : 

I'Ut  the  dang( 

.-jiread,  ivquii 

]'n»vcd  liinis( 

tiie  concurrei 

iKitidU  always 

tliaii  most  ot 

i'U'^wc  far  to  t 

iK'eticiit  and  t 

every  directio 

>'^ix  of  his 

pateliod   to    S 

eastern  .shores 

tlie  sea  coast, 

the  tribe,  cone 

appointed  a  <i 

hut,  at  the  sail 

wiiee  of  tlie  p 

and  (ieorufo   n 

tain  Hcnjaniin 

ill  that  part  of 

This  remark 


:Ji 


NEW  ENGLAND  IMMANS. 


nno 
L'JO 


livcroJ  cur  '^r  to  thut  j)ni'[)()so,  and  saying  tliat  lio  would 
never  own  liirn  again  or  light  nnd.'r  liim;  and,  iVoni  tliat 
tiiuo,  liatli  turned  to  the  I'lnglisli,  and  hath  eontiniu'il,  to 
this  day,  a  faithful  and  resolute  soldier  in  tiieir  <inarrcl." 

I'liilij)  had  mingled  mueh  with  liie  whites,  and  was  wrll 
aoquainted  with  their  haluiS,  disjxi.^ilions,  and  foi'ee.  i'oi" 
li!'ty  yeai's  there  had  been  eoni}iarali\e  peaee  between  the 
r.ii(»iii.-ts  and  their  savage  neighboi's,  who,  although  slow 
to  ad()|)t  the  customs  and  relinemeiits  now  brought  to  their 
'.Kiiice,  were  a])t  enough,  as  we  have  seen,  in  availing 
themselves  of  the  weajjons  whieh  put  the  eontending  iia- 
ijens  so  nearly  upon  terms  of  ecpudity. 

To  rouse  a  widely-scattered  pi^ople  to  such  a  desperate 
siriii.''gle;  to  reconeile  clannish  animosities,  and  to  j'oint 
'Hit  the  danger  of  allowing  the  eolonies  to  continue  their 
,-|iread,  required  a  master-spii'it.  The  Wampanoagsai-hem 
jii'oved  himself  (pialilled  for  the  undertaking:  \u\  gained 
tii'j  eoncurrenee  and  c>o])eration  of  the  Narragans;'tts.  a 
iiatiea  always  more  favorably  disposed  towards  the  Knglish 
than  most  others  of  the  Indiaii  tribes;  hi^  (Wtended  his 
league  far  to  the  westward,  among  the  tiibes  on  the  Con- 
iieetieiit  and  elsewdiere;  and  sent  dijilomatie  embassies  in 
every  direction. 

Six  of  his  warriors,  in  the  sjiring  of  lOTo,  were;  dis- 
patched to  Sogkonate,  now  Little  C(-unpton,  upon  the 
eastern  shores  of  Narragausett  bay,  and  extending  along 
the  sea  coast,  to  tivat  with  Awoshoid<s,  squaw  saeluMu  of 
tlio  tribe,  concerning  the  ])ropos(Ml  nj)rising.  The  (pieen 
appointed  a  great  dance,  calling  together  all  her  people, 
but,  at  the  same  tim(\  took  the  precaution  to  s(Mid  inielli- 
LTiice  of  the  proceeding,  l)y  two  Indians,  named  Sassamoii 
and  (jcorge,  who  understood  English,  to  her  friend,  Cap- 
tain Henjamin  Church,  the  only  white  settler  then  residing 
ill  that  ]iart  of  tlic  country. 

This  remarkable  man,  whose  name  occupies  so  prominent 


i.:#i 


'■■».; 


,  *♦' 


Mm 


,  I 


2U 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


a  pliU'c  in  tlie  list  of  our  early  military  liorocs,  liad  inovrM 
from  J)u\ljury  into  the  unsettled  eounti'vof  the  SoL^konutcs 
only  the  year  i^cfore,  and  was  busily  and  lahoriouslv  en- 
gaged, at  this  time,  in  building,  and  in  the  n'lmeious  enre.s 
attendant  uj^on  u  new  settlement.  lie  was  a  ninn  of 
coura,.  e  and  H^rtitiide  unsurjjassed:  l)()ld  and  enerLietic; 
but  witli  all  the  I'cjngh  qualities  of  a  soldier,  ])()ssessiiej-  ;i 
heart  so  open  to  kindly  emotions  and  the  gentler  feelin^H 
of  humanity  as  to  excite'  our  sni-j)rise,  when  we  ('(Misiilrr 
the  stern  age  in  which  he  lived,  and  the  scenes  of  saviip." 
conflict  in  which  he  bore  so  e{)ns))icuous  a  part. 

'i'rue  courage  is  giMierally  cond)ined  with  generosity  ami 
magnanimit\'.  'i'lie  brave  man  seldom  opj)i'esscs  a  fallen 
foe;  a  fact  strikingly  exemplified  in  (Jhui-ch's  ti'eatment 
of  his  jji'isoneis.  IJe  sc(Mns  to  have  hai'bored  none  of  those 
feelings  of  bitlei'ness  and  I'cvcnge  which  led  the  enloiiists 
to  acts  of  ]iei'li<ly  and  cruelty  hai'dly  surjjiissed  bv  tiie 
savages  thci'.iseh'cs.  ^j'he  nmnner  in  which  he  was  aMc 
to  con-'iliate  the  good-will  of  the  Indians,  k'nown  as  he  wn.^ 
among  them  for  theii"  most  dangei'oiis  f  )e,  is  ti'ul\-  nston- 
ishing.  ]t  was  his  eustt)m  to  select  from  his  captives  siteli 
as  took  ]i\'j  fancy,  and  attach  them  to  himself,  and  never 
wa.",  officer  attended  by  a  moi-c  enthusiastic  and  faitlifn! 
guard  than  they  jiroved.  His  son  tells  us  that  "if  lio 
perceived  they  looked  surly,  and  his  Indian  soldiers  calleil 
them  treacherous  <logs,  as  some  of  them  would  sonietimes 
do,  all  the  notice  he  would  take  of  it  would  only  he  tn 
clap  them  on  the  back,  and  tedl  them,  'Come,  come,  yon 
look  wild  ami  surlv,  and  muttiU',  but  thatsiuniiies  notliiai:'; 
these,  my  best  soldiers,  were,  a  little  while  ago,  as  wild  aii'l 
surly  as  you  are  now;  by  the  time  you  have  becii  but  one 
:Iay  with  me,  you  will  love  me  too,  and  be  as  brisk  nsany 
of  them.'  And  it  jiroved  so,  for  thei'c  was  none  {A'  tlicni 
but.  after  they  had  been  a  little  while  with  him.  and  seen 
his  behavior    and  how  cheerful  and  successful  his  men 


NEW  KNGLANl)  INDIANS. 


235 


veio,  would  1)0  as  ready  to  }ul<il.  liiiu  to  any  place  where 
the  Indians  dwelt  or  haunted,  though  their  own  lathers  or 
nearest  i-elations  should  be  anujug  theia,  or  to  Tight  lor 
him,  as  any  of  his  own  men." 

Captain  Church  was  in  high  favor  and  confidenee  with 
Awushonks  and  her  tribe;  he  therefore  accepted  her  invi- 
tation to  attend  at  the  dance,  and  started  foi'  the  camp, 
ai'conipanicd  by  a  son  of  his  tenant,  who  s])oke  the  Jn- 
Jiau  language. 

Ho  found  the  queen  leading  the  dance,  "in  a  muck  of 
sweat,'"  surrounded  by  a  great  body  oi'  her  subjeets.  She 
received  her  visitor  hospitably,  told  him  of  Philii)'s  threats, 
;iiiil  iuijuired  concei-ning  the  i)urpose:i  of  the  English, 
riiin-ch  told  her  that  no  injuries  hail  been  meditated  by 
lh(.' whiles,  as  I'hilii)  averred,  but  that  the  sachem  was  the 
ai;;i2Tessor.  lie  advised  her  to  keej  upon  good  terms  with 
the  English,  asking  her  whether  it  was  a  ])robable  thing 
that  he  should  have  co'.^  down  into  the  wild  .rness  to  set- 
tle— if  there  were  warlike  j)rej>arations  in  progress  among 
his  people;  and  silenced  tin;  six  ^b)unt  lIo{)e  ambnssadors 
1)V  rceoinmendiiig  that  thev  should  be  knocked  ow  ihe 
head.  A  stormv  discussion  ensued  amomz  the  Indians, 
and  one  Little  Kyes,  a  man  of  importance,  endeav(.)rcd  to 
ilniw  ^hurch  aside  to  (lisj>atch  him  cpiietly ;  but  tlieeapt;dn 
was  unmoved,  and  u])l)raided  the  Mount  Hopes  for  their 
hioody  intention,  assuring  them  that,  if  they  wouhl  h;ive 
War,  he  would  jU'ove  a  thorn  in  tluur  sides.  Awoshonks 
inelined  to  liis  advice,  and,  having  a])i)ointed  two  men 
to  truard  his  house  during  his  absence,  desired  him  to  go  to 
Plymouth,  and  make  known  her  good  faith  to  the  colonies. 

(-'iuireh  started  on  his  mission,  and,  un  the  way,  gained 
furtlier  infoi'mation  concerning  Philip's  movements  from 
IVtei  Nunnuit,  the  husband  of  ^Veetamore,  (pieen  of  l*o- 
cas?et,  now  Tiverton.  Philij),  it  seems,  had  Ijceii  holding 
a  protracted  dance  for  a  number  of  wet'ks,  rousing  a  Hiai'- 


.  i.    ^  :  \i 


I'  iii" 


r»|* 


i* 


I' 


i»     '    a 


f. 


I 


U  I 


t 


'fl  !>' 


I 


^t 


m 


$■ 


1     :. 


,^i 


1- 

1,     , 

/ 
1 

'M 

EU 

i 

^-*^ 


'W 


\h\ 


^»    i! 


$\Mii 


!    230 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMIOUICA. 


tiiil  spirit  in  tlu'  iniinls  of  tin;  youiif^  ■warriors  who  wort' 
gatluTcd  ali'iiit,  liiia  I'loiii  l;ir  and  near.  JIc  had  finallv 
|iruiiiisrd  tlii'iii  that,  on  tlu;  siiccci'dinj^  Sabltalli,  liujy 
niiulil  jdiiudcr  the  I'liiglish  .scttlciueiits,  wliilc  tho  jn'ople 


\Vi 


I'c  cn'jatrcd  in  reIi''"ioii.s  services. 


W 


e  iiKiv  iicrt!  nieiitioii  a  eireiuiistancc  whieli  \va 


.>    CO 


sideivd,  l>v  IIiii»l);ird  and  othiM's,  as  liavin^  an  ini|n)iiaat 
bearing  npon  the  prenialnre  eonmieneenient  of  hostilities 
on  the  jiart  of  IMiilip:  this  was  tlu;  nmrder  ol'  .hjlm  Sa.s- 
samon,  :jid  the  sid)se<[iu'nt  exeention  of"  the  guilty  jiartirs. 


Sassanioii  was 


one  of  the  few  huiians  who,  at  that  l 


Hue. 


had  received  the  rndinients  of  an  Mnglisli  edui  ■  'ion.  lie 
was  a  i)rofessor  of  Christianity,  and  had  bee.  en.  n\vi\ 
ani<jnL,Hiis  people  in  the  capacities  of  sehoobna.-  r,  |.  •  her, 
and  royal  secretary.  In  lOd'J,  In;  oecnpied  *•  is  Uut  post 
ler  Philip,  to  whom  he  was  snbject,   altiu;      ./  boin  a 


un< 


M; 


issaehusett — and  s[ieciniens  ol   his  nnpi  'leet  eonuii 


mil 


cations  with   the  eoh)nies,  in   behalf  ui' 


acheni,  are 


still 


prcsor 


ved. 


Becoming  aware  of  the  dangcnjus  conspiracy  foiiic!itiil 
by  Philij),  ho  disclosed  the  wlujle  jilot  to  the  ollicers  of  the 
colony;  and,  not  long  iifter,  his  body  was  found  in  As.si- 
womsett  pond,  with  the  heck  broken,  and  j)reseiit 


mu'  olluT 


mar 


ks  of 


violence. 


Hi 


s  o-iiii  aiK 


I  hat 


di 


were  so  disnoscd  as 


(1 


to  give  the  impression  that  he  had  accidentally  i'allcii 
thi'ough  the  ice,  and  been  drowned.  U'lic  matter  \va::i 
strictly  iiapiired  into,  and  three  Jiubans,  of  Philip's  party. 
falling  nnder  suspit;ion,  were  regularly  tried  before  ;i  juiy, 
in  part  at  least  of  their  ]>eers,  as  it  was  composed  of  whites 
and  iiubians.  The  culprits  were  convicted  and  execiiicl 
two  of  them  uj)on  what  would  aj)])ear  to  us  as  very  'nsut- 
lieient  evidence.  Matluu- sj)eaks  of  the  blood  oozing  i'rom 
the  murdered  body  on  the  apjiroach  of  the  accused;  but 
whether  this  circumstance  made  a  j)art  of  the  evidoiieo 
before  the  court  does  not  a})pear. 


ATTACK  ON    SI 
BRIUGK- 

vv 


eiscs,  "in  a\ 


r" 


M:\\'  KNfJLANl)   INDIAN^. 


237 


Philip  liiinsi'lfdifl  not  coino  forwunl  to  attempt  to  clear 
liiin-"'ir  of  iIk'  (•liar;^e  of  bein^  eoiu-ei'iH^il  in  this  ninrdiT, 
liU  '  [it  liis  wai'riors  in  juvparatioii  i'nv  battle,  I'lTciving 
ar  1  I  iUrrfaiiiin^'  all  the  roviii,<^^  ami  unsettled  Indians  who 
\vi  u.  1  resort  to  him,  and  "marching  up  and  down''  con- 
tinually dui'ing  the  pendancy  of  the  trial. 


■  C  II  APT  Ell   V. 

ATTACK  ON    SWANSKV — COI.LKCTION  OK  TUOOl's  —  FluIIT  AT    MILES* 

BRIUGK — PHILIP  UKIVKN   FUO.M  TIIIC    NKCK CIIUUCH  AT 

j  PUNKATESE DKSTKUCTION   OK   IUIOOaKIELD. 

It  was  on  the  24tli  of  June,  lOT."),  that  the  first  open 

attack  was  made  u))on  the  cohMiies.     ^I'he  small  village!  of 
''    Swausey  lay  within  a  few  miles  of  >rount  lIo])e,  and  here 

the  first  blood  was  shed.     Some  days  j)revious,  a  ]>arty  (jf 
'    the  natives  had  committed  a  few  slight  depredati<^ns  at  this 

plaoe,  and  conducted  themselves  with  insolence,  evidently 

desirous  of  provoking  a  quaiTel. 
The  squaws  and  ehihb'cn  of  Philip's  active  force  were 

FCiit,  for  safety,  to  the  country  of  the  Narragansetts,  before 
:  any  open  demonstration  of  hostilities. 

Some  little  discrepancy  occurs  in  the  early  accounts  of 
;  the  lirst  fatal  attack,  but  it  is  certain  that,  on  the  day  above 
,  iiu'iitioned,  eight  or  nine  men  were  killed  in  dilTereiit  ]i;irts 
I  of  Swansey.  A  com])any  returning  from  religious  e.\ei-- 
.  cises,  "in  a  way  of  humiliation,"  were  fired  upon  with  fntal 
;  efl'ei.'t,  one  being  killed  and  several  wounded.  'Pwo  more, 
I  wlio  had  started  in  quest  of  a  surgeon,  were  slain,  scalpeil 
,  ai)d  mangled;  and  six  men  were  killed  at  a  dwcllingdiousc 
,  l^itllated  in  another  part  of  the  settlement, 
i      Prom  this  period  all  was  terror  and  confusion.     Swan- 


f    f 


:j 


-71 


238 


IM'IA.V  HACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


8cy  was  (Icsertod  liy  its  inliabitiuits,  and  mostly  reduced  to 
uslics  by  tlio  Indians.  l)('|mfati<)ns  were  sent  to  Boston. 
to  lay  the  ease  before  the  Massaehusctt.-i  siuthorities,  and 
to  solieit  some  |)rom})t  and  edieient  ])roteetioii  in  tliis  tor- 
riljle  emergency. 

A  l)arty  of  horse  and  foot  were  at  once  dispatch. mI  ui 
the  direction  of  Mount  ilope,  under  tlic  eomnianil  of  ('hi,. 
tains  Henchman  and  Prentice.  SanincI  Mosely,  a  hold  ;ii„l 
martial  character,  wh(j  had  jiursiied  the  calling  ol'a  ],rlv,i- 
tcer,  raised  a  volunteer  comjiany  of  on(>  hundi'(>il  and  tea 
soldiers,  and  jcjined  the  expedition.  Jle  was,  it  is  said,  {[>■. 
conipanicd  by  several  bucaneers  of  his  own  class,  with  ;i 
jHimber  of  dogs;  and  the  feats  jterlbrmcd  by  them,  upoii 
divers  occasions,  savor  rather  of  the  marvellous. 

'\'\\o,  heud-(inarters  of  the  nnitcd  forces  were  at  the  lioiiso 
of  a  minister  of  Swanscy,  named  Miles,  and  iiard  by  was  a 
bridge,  allbrding  convenient  access  to  the  domains  of  I'liilij.. 

Captain  Church,  with  the  riymouth  troops  under  Mij"!' 
Cutworth,  were  now  acting  in  concert  with  the  men  Uvm 
Massachusetts.  'J'he  Indians  lay  concealed  or  sknlkii;: 
about  the  garrison,  and  succeeded  in  killing  a  number  hv 
shots  from  covert,  but  showe<l  themselves  warv  of  coniin;' 
to  o])en  combat. 

A  detac.'hment  of  Prentice's  men,  led  by  a  Mr.  dill  ai:il 
one  Ik'lcher,  made  an  attempt  U[)on  the  enemv  in  tiu'ir 
own  <piarters,  but,  ujuju  crossing  Miles'  bridge,  Avere  fnnl 
u]nm  by  some  of  the  Indians  lying  in  ambush,  and  one 
of  their  ninnber  was  killed.  (Jill  was  struck  bv  a  hall, 
wdiich  would  have  proved  mortal  l)ut  for  a  singular  sin- 
cies  of  defensive  armor,  vi/:  a  quantity  of  thick  brown 
I)aj)er  which  he  had  inserted  under  his  clothes.  I'hc  troops 
retreated,  leaving  Church,  Gill,  and  another  to  bring  oil' 
the  dead  man;  which,  being  accom))lished.  Church  pur- 
sued and  regained  his  horse,  under  the  full  lire  of  the  encrnv. 

The  next  day  the  bridge-  was  crossed  by  a  larger  force, 


NEW  KXtll.ANI)    INDIANS. 


239 


mid,  ufttM*  sonic  skirmishiiiLT,  in  which  "  Kiisi^-ii  Siiva^e, 
that  yoiin;^  martial  s))ark,  scarce  twenty  years  oraj^'c,"  wixA 
shot  througli  the  thi<^h— as  Church  says,  by  an  accidental 
liall  li'nui  his  own  party — the  neck  df  Mount  ll(i|ie  was 
i.'lea:vil  (if  In<lians.  Tlie  Mn^^lish  there  liiuml  Phinp's  de- 
scrti'd  wi^'wain,  and  the  niutilafed  ix  mains  of  a  numln'r 
(if  the  inurdei'ctl  wliites. 

It  was  now  j)ro})osed  to  secure  the  lii'ound  already  trained 
liv  the  oroetion  of  a  ibi't.  Chundi  ridiculed  the  jilan,  and 
ur^'oiiily  advot-ateil  a  luisk  j)ursuit  of  liu,'  enemy  in  the 
I'dcasset  country,  whither  they  had  (loid)tless  lied.  I'Vom 
ilisrei.fai"d  to  this  ad\ice,  Phili])  had  free  si;oi»e  to  extend 
his  devastations  unchecked  toward  the  east,  and  ten'd)le 
ih'struction  ensued,  as  we  shall  see  hereafli'r. 

Karly  in  duly,  Captains  Church  and  l^'uller,  with  six 
lilc*  of  sohliers,  were  siMit  across  to  Jihode  Island,  thence 
to  cress  So.ukonate  river,  and  endeavor  tocommunieate  with 
the  Poeasset  and  So^^konat*'  Indians.  Ahoet  the  same  time, 
Captain  Hutchinson,  i'rom  l^oston,  aiaivcd  at  the  ]'!n!j!i>h 
eiicainpnieiit,  havin,L,M)een  eDnnuissioned  to  treat  with  and 
•rain  over  the  Narra,Lransetts.  In  pursuance  of  tliis  jmi-- 
jiosc,  Hutchinson,  with  Mosely  and  the  Massachusetts 
ti'(M»ps,  proceeded  in  arms  to  the  Xarra.uansclt  coimtrv, 
where,  in  eoneert  with  commissioners  (Vom  Connecticut, 
they  concluded  a  futile  and  inoperati\e  treaty  n['  amity 
with  certain  Indians  claimin,Lr  to  be  chief  counsellors  of 
the  prominent  sachems.  The  Narragansetts  were  b<_)und, 
liy  the  stipulations  of  this  alliance,  to  render  uj)  all  of 
Philip's  subjects  who  should  be  found  in  their  country— 
rrivivin<^  two  coats  for  every  prisoner,  and  one  coat  for 
every  head — and  to  carry  on  active  war  a<^ainst  the  enemies 
of  the  whites.  IIosta<jjes  wei'c  given  to  ensure  the  j)cr- 
forinancc  of  the  engagement. 

While  this  child's  j>lay  was  enacting,  Fuller  ami  Church, 
with  their  little  band  of  thirty -six  men,  had  penetrated 


',:  f 


I'    : 


I  • 


"  1  ,1 


'iiiii# 


*n 


210 


IM»1AN   HACKS  OK  AMKKICA. 


into  the  country  nl'ilic  INxMsscts.  ACu-r  somo  UdsiRrosful 
attempts  to  fiitrjiji  tlu'ciiciriy  l>y  iiiciuis  of  iiiiildisciuli',  (tl|,< 
t'oiicuiilcil  (•(iiii|»;iiiy  luiii^f  lirtiiiyed  hy  iiu'uutioiislv  ;jr;ifi. 
fyiii;^  their  "  i']iiih'iiii(.';il  I'lii".!!!',  lii.»t  niter  tohiiccd,") 
Chiireh  ;iiiil  lilh'eii  oi-  tu  ciity  eoiiij)anioiiH,  with  the  eoiiscnt 
ol'  Caiitaiii  I'liller,  h'l't  the  rest  al  Pocassct,  and  nuuvlicd 
KOUth\\:ir(h 


Thev  struck  an  Indian  ti'ail  leadiu'^  towards  an  (^xtei 


ISlVi' 


jtinu  .swaiuj),  hut,  the  edinjiaiiy  hecoiiihig  ulariued  hy  tin' 
iiundjei's  ol  I'atlKsnakes  which  alnnincU'd  there,  left  tlic 
track,  and  went(h)wn  into  I'uid^atese  neck.  At  this  jiliuv, 
which  is  situated  on  the  south-western  paitof  th(^  modern 
town  of  'I'ivei'ton,  they  encountered  a  hir;^e  hcjdy  nf  tli.> 
natives  in  and  around  a  pcase-fiehl  of  Captain  Almv. 
They  nunihered,  as  Church  was  afterwards  tohl  hysoinenf 
theii-(jwii  pai'ty,  ahout  three  hundred;  but,  as  they  pursui'il 
tlie  usual  course  of  savage  wurl'are,  firing  from  heliiml 
trei\s  and  thickets,  the  Miighsh  eouhl  form  no  estiinutt'  ef 
the  force  with  whicli  ihcy  were  to  eontend. 

In  this  extremity  the  eoura<^e,  coolness,  and  self-[H)sso(i- 


8i(jn  of  the  gallant  captain  were  eminen 


tly  con 


St)lCllOUS. 


As  foreiblv  expressetl  in  Church's    nari'ative.    "the   h 


d 
{teemed  to  move,  being  covereil  over  with  Indian 

their  bright  guns  glitterinir  in  the  sun. 


s,  with 


A  detachment  had  been  sent  down  the  river  in  boats  ti 


sujt)K)rt  the   trooj'.s  on    land,  and  eon 


M 


)lanilv  seen 


IV'.T. 


:iro 


ii;ii 


landed  upon  tlu;  Khode  hsland  shore,  across  the  i' 
Church  bade  his  men  strip  to  their  shirt-sleeves,  and 
signal  gtuis  to  attract  altenti(^n,  and  show  theii-  allie.s  t 
the  party  engaged  was  English.  This  eounsc  suc'ceedid, 
ail  a  boat  j»ut  out,  and  a})j)i'oached  the  eond)atants;  hut, 
on  ap|>roaehing  tlie  shoi'c,  the  crew  received  such  a  volley 
from  the  guns  of  the  Indians,  that  they  jtullcd  off  again. 
Church,  enraged  at  their  pusillanimity,  Inudly  ordered  tiit; 
boat  oil",  and  thrcateia^d  to  lire  into  her  himself.     TIjc.-i; 


annv,  as  Chi 


NEW  KN(JLANI)    INDIANS. 


211 


few  men,  tliM«i  Ifft  to  sliiPt,  Htr  tlicinsclvi's,  now  s/'cmod  lo 
\r  ill  a  (It'Sj)onitc  condition.  'I'licy  wcrr  liiiiit  ("or  want  of 
food,  !is  tlicy  liad  iic^'lcctcd  to  briiifj  any  provisions,  otluT 
than  a  li'w  <vil'<'S  of  rusk,  and  iiad  been  di'iv(Mi  fmni  tli«' 
pfWO'liold  wliilt.'  endeavoring  to  allay  tln'ir  liiiii,L;rr  wiili 
tlic  (Tilde  nourishment  within  th(Mr  reaeh.  The  luihans 
licsot  tlieni  on  all  sides,  and,  gaining  possession  (A'  the 
ruins  of  an  old  stonediouse,  ])onred  their  bullets  uj»on  llie 
KiiL'lish  from  its  shelter.  I'he  ammunition  of  ('liiirch's 
party  was  nearly  expended,  and  their  j)owder  was  poor  and 
iut'llu'ient.  In  the  midst  of  these  diirieulties,  the  captain 
siicwedeil  in  preserving  the  eouragc  ami  spirit  of  his  nim, 
{>.>inting  out  to  them  how  providentially  the  balls  secincil 
to  be  directed. 

Tliey  were  finally  relieved  from  their  perilous  situation 
ly  the  arrival  of  a  sloop  of  Captain  Cudding,  an  acpiaint- 
unce  of  Church.  Mooring  the  vessel  at  a  short  distance, 
he  east  oil'  a  eanoe,  ami  suffered  it  to  drive  ashore.  In 
this  slight  vehicle,  which  wordd  carry  but  two  at  a  time, 
♦hi!  whole  of  the  party  got  off  to  the  sloop,  by  a  rc'pctiliou 
of  the  same  operation.  Church,  who  had  left  his  hat  at  a 
sj'iiiig,  declared  that  the  enemy  shotdd  not  have  it  as  a 
trcjiliy;  and,  loading  his  gun  with  his  last  charge  of  pow- 
(hr,  lie  went  up  alone,  in  the  face  of  the  Indians,  and 
rei.'overed  it.  When  going  on  board  in  the  canoe,  a  ball 
struck  a  small  stake  just  before  his  breast,  and  another 
passed  throu'ih  his  hair. 

-Joining  company  next  day  with  Fuller's  party,  who  had 
also  been  engaged  with  the  Indians  at  Pocas.set,  they  all 
returned  to  the  cncatnpment  at  Mount  llojte,  where  tin; 
army,  as  Church  averred,  "lay  still  to  cover  the  people 
from  nobody,  while  they  were  building  a  fort  for  iiotliing." 

Shortly  after  this,  being  upon  Khode  Island,  in  puisiiit 
ofsuppli(\-,  for  the  garrison,  Church  fell  in  with  Aldeiiiian, 
a  deserter  from  the  forces*  of  W'eetariiore,  (jiieeii  of  I'ocas- 


i 


t  I 


If, 


Jr., 


i,|*i* 


ilirii. 


h 


212 


INDIAN'    KACES  OF  AMKHICA. 


set.  V>y  conversation  with  this  Indian,  ht;  Icarncil  i;,.> 
])iV(;ise  s])ot  at  which  the  s(^ua\v  sachoni  w;us  tMiraiii|>.  ij, 
and,  in  ])ursnanc.c  of  liis  suggestion,  an  cx})eihti(iii  u;i.s 
iinniediatelvset  on  loot  against  her.  'riit>  attempt  tiiiiiin. 
at('(l  in  an  unimportant  skirmish;  the  chief  ollicer  ol'  t'tir 
rivmoutli  jncn  being  timid,  and  the  Indians  retiiiiig  tn  ;i 
swam})  of  dilhcult  access. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  the  united  forces  of  the  colonists 
drove  Phihp,  with  a  hirgc  body  of  his  warriors,  into  an 
extensive  swamp  in  Pocassct.  After  an  imperfect  tx:i;u- 
illation  of  the  Indians'  phice  of  retreat,  the  forces  \vrn> 
(hawn  o(l',  having  sustained  considerable  loss  l)y  the  lire 
<'i'  tlie  lurking  enemy.  It  was  averred,  indeed,  bv  si>i:;i', 
tli.it  lialf  an  hour  more  of  energetic  pursuit  would  jia\v 
seciireil  Phiiij),  and  perhaps  have  ended  the  war.  ()i;o 
liundred  newlj'-erectcd  wigwams  were  found  desertc'l  i:i 
the  vicinity  of  the  swanif);  and  an  old  man,  who  had  lnvn 
left,  behind  in  the  ])recipitate  retreat,  conlirmed  thesiqj"'- 
sition  that  Philip  had  but  lately  fled  from  the  eniiip. 

Not  far  from  this  time,  the  town  of  Dartmouth  liavin:: 
been,  in  great  measui'c,  destroyed  by  the  enemv,  a  ii'ji' 
imniber  of  Indians,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  m\!v, 
^\•ho  had  dwelt  in  the  country  thereabout,  and  wen'  i:"t 
active  ])artakers  in  the  destruction  of  tlie  town,  ddixriv,! 
tiieiiiselves  up  to  oiu'  ('a[)tain  Eels,  upon  jtroniises  el' un,,,! 
treatment.  They  were,  nevertheless,  taken  to  Plynidnt.i: 
sold  by  the  colonial  authorities  iis  slaves;  and  transpi-it.  .1 
to  I'oivign  j)arts.  Captains  Church  and  Kcls  made,  \\\">n 
this  occasion,  the  most  vehcnuMit  remonstrances,  cxpi'i'ssril 
by  Chureh  with  his  charactci'istie  energy  and  s]Mril;  !''it 
all  to  no  purpose,  as  it  only  stH-ureil  him  the  ill-will  nf  liio 
goveniiiieiit.  The  act  Was  grossly  inipolitie,  as  wrjl  ;us 
perddious  ami  t'ruel. 

TIh*  Mnglisli  (Mitertained  ho))es  of  being  able  to  ( MnHiie 
Philip  within   th(>   limits  of  the  swiimp  to  which   he  \\:A 


yVAV  KNTjr.AN'I)    INDIANS. 


I)  I  •> 


rctirc'l.  :niil  ]>r(K!(H'(l(!(l  to  erect  aiiothor  fort  at  Pocas.-ct; 
ail  ('xiMilit'iit  wliirli  seems  to  have  l)eeii  as  ill-adviseil  and 
futile  as  the  j^'arrisoiiiii^L^  of  Mount  I1o|m'.  The  sachem 
hail  ahim(huit  leisure  to  prepare  canoes,  an  (Opportunity  ot' 
wliii'h  lie  (lili.^tMitly  availed  himself,  and  aeci't'tly  passed 
till'  river  with  all  his  wari'iors.  They  wen;  seen  by  the 
boojile  of  Kelioboth,  crossinir  the  open  country,  which  e\- 
toiidi'il  for  some  distance,  and  olVered  lU)  means  of  protec- 
tion or  concealment  to  the  fui^itives. 

A  pai'  ■  was  speedily  sent  in  ]>nrsuit,  under  Caj)tain 
llcncliii;:.  .,  aeef)tnpanied  hy  Owi-noco,  tlu^  son  of  I'lieas 
till-  Mdhciran,  and  a  considerahle  band  of  warriors.  In- 
(•as  had  sent  this  detaeliment  to  Hoston,  n]>()n  the  summons 
(if  the  ^^assaehusett.s  authoiMties,  to  renew  his  assurances 
(if  L^ood  faith,  and  jiroller  assistance  in  the  campaign 
against  Philip. 

Henchman's  company  {)roce(>iled  u{)  the  river  to  Provi- 
ilcnce,  nnd  being  there  somewhat  n-inforced,  lia.stoned  at 
eiii'i'  (111  the  trail  of  the  WampanoaLT.  Coming  up  with  a 
]'"rti(in  of  the  enemy,  a  sharp  engagement  ensued,  and 
iili'iut  thirty  of  i'hilij)'s  warriors  were  kilhMJ,  l)ut  the  ^b^• 
lifgans  stojiping  for  plunder,  the  principal  Ibreo  escaped. 
ami  fioiii  that  time  were  no  more  seen  by  tlu;  pursuers, 
lleiichman  returiu'd  with  his  men  to  the  eastern  colonics, 
while  the  Moli(>gans  took  tiieir  n'ly  southward  to  their 
nun  country,  leaving  Philip  to  pursue  his  course  towards 
till'  lliKL-^on,  and  to  rouse  up  the  war  among  the  westt'in 
.'Settlements  of  Nrassaehusett.s. 

'l"ie  Nipmucks,  a  larg*^  tribe  inhaldting  the  north-ca.st- 
irn  portion  of  the  ]»resent  statt;  of  Connecticut,  and  tlu! 
ailioiniiiL'  Ala.s'^achu.setts  district.s,  appear,  en*  this  jicriod, 
tn  have  become  involv<Ml  in  Philip's  undertaking.  Men- 
il'iii,  a  small  town,  twenty-four  miles  westward  from  I'rovi 
(lenee,  and  standing  nt  some  dist.'incc  from  any  other 
sotllciacnt,  had  been  attacked  on  the  11th  of  July,  and  a 


1  f 


.'  t 


■  »i 


5i4 


INDIAN'    HACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


TiiinlxM'  of  iiKMi  Icillc  1  by  shots  from  nn  unscoii  ODcinr. 
The  wliolo  oC  tlu!  iiih:il)itaiits  deserted  the  pUiec  in  terror, 
and  it  was  rcdnciM]  to  :ishes  by  tlie  itssiii hints, 

Tlie  eolonies  attcmiitcd,  aAcr  tliis,  to  treat  witli  tlm 
Xipmnek  saeheins,  ]>ut  fonnd  them  I'cserved  and  "suilv." 
A  HKHHini;  was,  liowcvcr,  ajipointcd  between  thmi  ainl 
an  endtassy  from  the;  Massachusetts  ^'overnment.  Captains 
AVht.'eler  and  Ilutehinson,  with  n  eonsiderable  bodv  (if 
mounted  men,  repaired  to  the  j)hiee  of  mectin^jj  at  tlirtiini' 
(h'si;^nated,  viz:  the  2il  of  Au;,nist;  but,  instead  of  eoniin,' 
forward  in  friendly  conference,  tiie  Indians,  to  tli<^  nuniht'r>>l 
two  or  thrc(5  liundred,  foiincMl  an  ambuscade,  and,  niiiiu's'ii- 
(h'uly  from  tlieir  CDver,  killc*!  ci^dit  of  th(!  whites  at  the  lir-! 
♦liscliarge.     Ilutehinson  was  kiUed  and  \Vhei'](>r  woimilc.!. 

The  company,  avoidinj^  tlu^  other  sjx^ts  where  they  sii>- 
pected  tlie  enemy  to  be  lyin.uf  in  ambush,  maih;  the  K-  -• 
of  their  way  to  HrookOeld,  a  sohtary  vilhi,L:e  near  the 
jtrincipal  Iieud-quarters  of  the  Nipmneks.  The  Indian^, 
in  f^reat  numbers,  pursued  them  into  the  town.  TIhv 
found  the  tcrritied  inhabitants  eoHected  in  a  single  lidHv, 
wlii<;li  stood  on  a  rising  ground,  whi're  they  had  loitilir.i 
themselves  as  well  as  j)ossible,  upon  such  an  I'lmT- 
gency,  by  Jfiling  logs  and  hanging  feather  jycds  a^Min>t 
the  walls.  Wheeler  and  his  companions  also  entered  tin' 
house,  ami  the  savages,  after  burning  all  the  bni!(liii;:s  in 
the  town,  with  the  e.\eej)tion  of  a  few  innnediately  adjoin- 
ing that  where  the  whitiis  had  retniated,  laid  close  sieue  to 
the  frail  fortification.  Seventy  people,  incdnding  wi;iiii!i 
and  children,  were  here  crowded  together,  with  sueli  .s!il;1iI 
defences  as  we  have  mentioned;  while  an  enraged  and  n  ■ 
morscde.ss  enemy  W!u<  j)uuring  showers  jf  bullets  ihrouuli 
th(!  walls,  and  usm,.;  rvn-y  endeavor  to  liie  t!ie  liousi'. 
The  Indians  shot  burnin./  arrows  upon  tlie  i-oof,  and. 
attaching  rags  dij)ped  in  brimstone  to  long  poles,  tin  v  .si  I 
fire  to  tlicin,  and  thrust  tli' -ii  against  the  walls.     I'roni  thu 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


24; 


'  iiftcriiooii  of  Monday  the  '2<I  of  August,  till  Wedncsdny 
evening,  these  assaults  coiitiiiucl;  and,  ;is  a  last  attciuiit, 
ilio  hcsitgcrs  loaded  a  cait  with  luMnp  and  otlu-r  inllam- 
iiKihle  materials,  and  liinding  logethi^r  a  nundjer  of  poles,  so 
atlaclu'd  to  the  vehi>'l(,'  that  it  could  bo  moved  from  a  safo 
(lislaiiee,  wheeled  it  bla/iiig  against  the  building.  This  was 
ia  the  evening,  an<l,  according  to  Wheeler's  aec(junt,  noth- 
iii;,' could  have  j)reserveil  the  unfortunate  inmates,  had  not  h 
heavy  shower  of  rain  suddenly  extinguished  the  burning 
n,a^^.  In  the  words  oi'  Hubbard,  by  "this  di'velish  stl'ata- 
f:oM,"  but  for  the  rain,  "all  the  poor  jtrople  would  either 
h.ivi'  bi'cn  cDnsumed  by  merciless  flames,  or  (dse  have  lali- 
(ii  intii  the  Inuals  of  their  cruel  enemies,  like  wolves  eon- 
lliHially  yelling  and  gaping  for  their  prey." 

To  cxcluile  all  assistanci-  fi'om  without,  the  Indians  had 
|i!;i'c'd  watchers  and  andmscades  upon  all  sides  of  the 
tnuii;  but  Majoi'  Willard,  who  had  been  di.sj)atehed  against 
til.'  Indians  west  (»f  (j lolou,  hearing  of  the  j»robable  eondi- 
t:";i  uf  Ibdi  ilvlield,  marched  to  its  relief,  and  succeeded  in 
iii'ti'ting  an  cnti'anci!  to  the  f  »rtilieil  hou.-i'  on  this  same 
hiul.t.  lie  had  with  him  forty-six  men,  but  it  is  said  that, 
;i.-  ihiy  pas,sed  through  the  launsof  the  town,  a  lai'gc  num 
I'rritl'  tcrrilii'd  catth',  who  ha<l  not  been  de.iti'oycd  in  tin; 
iMiiilagration,  folKnveil  them  ibr  protection;  and  that,  in 
till'  darkness,  the  Indians  were  d(.'ceivc(l  by  this  cii-cum- 
.Miiacc,  as  to  the  number  of  the  party,  anil  accoi'<lingly 
drew  olV  their  forces  early  the  next  morning,  'i'hey  re- 
tii'd  to  a  swamp,  twelve  miles  distant,  where  they  met 
J'iiiiip  with  a  band  of  his  warriors.  ( )nly  oik^  of  the  whites 
was  kilK'd  on  this  occasion,  wliile  the  Indians  lost,  it  is 
.Slid,  nearly  eighty. 

A  garrison  was  maintained  at  the  oidy  rcmaiiung  hou.so 
T'l-  SMMic  months,  but  was  finally  drawn  olf,  tin;  building 
Was  burned  by  tlu'  .savages,  and  the  town  left  entirely 
'Icsjlato. 


iiiii'i  I  Aiiiu 


r 

1» 


'"V 


^m 


'i^ 


Ml 


i 

Il 

11 

!'■ 

ItP  ' 

!' 

:l 

11    ill!' 


n  'I  > 


r.'. 


I  ill 
n 


246  IM)IAN    ItACKS    OF    AMKUICA. 

ClIArTKK  VI. 
"iiiijp  ;movi;.s  wkstwakd — atiacks  on  iiadi.ky  and  i)i;i:i!Kn;i,i) 

GOKKK  TliK  l;  K(i  1(1  DK — DKS  riilMTION  i)F   r.  ATI!  It(  ll'"s  CO.M.MA.Mi — 

A.s.sAii.Ts  ON   .sri;iN(.iii;i.i)  and   iiati-iki.h — kxi'kdi  hon 

A(iAINsr    IIIK    NARIiAliANSKTTS  ;     Ol    TK  A<.  Ki  MS  Cli;'!'.!,. 

TiK.s  IN  ■iiii;n;  hkium  tion — riiii.ir  on  thk  iniisuN 

DKSTlil.i  TloN  OK  I.ANCASl  Kit.  M  !;|pFI  KI.D   SKli- 

KONK,   (iliOToN,  WAKWICK,  M  A  It  I.IIOKonill, 

KTC. (.'ANONCHKT   TAKKN    AND    I'lT    TO 

DKATII KL-KTlli:i!  INDIAN  UAVAl.K.S. 

"All  (lii'd — till'  wailiiijf  habi — tlic  slir.rkiiiir  maid — 
And  in  tlii'  tlnod  of  lire  tliat  scathed  tin-  j^ia  ".v, 
The  roofs  went  down." — Huyant. 

Wk  can  do  little  inoi't^,  in  coiiliiiiiin;''  cliis  accdiuit  of 
Indian  ravages,  than  eimmcrati!  tin'  towns  and  .settli'iiicnt.s 
destroyctl,  and  tiie  little  coinninnities  massacred  or  diivcn 
from  their  homes  in  utter  destitution. 

The  terrible  uncertainty  wiiich  attended  these  ealaiiiitii'S 
rendered  them  the  more  distressin,uf.  No  one  could  tell, 
for  many  months  from  this  tinu>,  where  I'hilij)  was  to  ho 
found,  or  at  what  ])oint  he  meditatt^l  the  next  attack.  Ih; 
continued  Ids  westward  j)i'ogi-e.^.><,  as  is  supposed,  ne;.,lvt<) 
the  Hudson,  through  the  Mohegan  country.  IJe  wa.-; 
thought  to  he  i)i-esent  at  many  of  the  successful  and  mur- 
derous assaults  that  were  made  U])on  the  white  s  ieineiits; 
but,  if  so,  he  was  enabled  so  to  disguise  liim.-'  as  not  to 
be  di.stinctly  recognized. 

Mo.sely  and  others  in  vain  scoured  the  cor  ,:ry  in  ])nr- 
suit  of  the  Indians.  The  enemy,  m-glectiiij  rtgricultiuv, 
and  (U'serting  their  usual  haunts,  concealci  iiemselves  in 
swamjw  and  thickets,  retiring  unj)erceivcd  at  the  a])))roae'li 
of  regular  troops,  and  evi-r  ready  to  take  atlvautagc  uf 
any  weak  and  unp'-otccted  quarter. 


NKW  EXr.LAND    INDIANS. 


247 


Tlio  Indians  in  tlu*  vicinity  of  Ilailli^y  iiml  Sin-inij-ricM. 

[  on  till'  ComuM'ticnt,  were  n'licil  upon  l^y  tin*  wliitcs  as 
I'rieinllv  ami  wcll-ilispostMl;  Ixit  ci-c  lon^'  il  was  sulliciently 
iihiiii  thai  tlii'V  Ii'kI  made  coinnion  cause  ",itli   I'liilip. 

On  the  1st  of  Scptciiilicr,  llai'cy  ami  l>ccilicM  were 
hcth  lionrly  assaulted,  and  the  1  ittei-  town  in  iii'cat  ineas- 

:   IIP'  destroyed.     At  lladley  the   Imlians  were  ilriven  olV 

'  after  inneh  liard  fi;_dltin,L^  TIh*  inhabitants  wei'e  en,L^•l,^■ed 
in  n'li.LMous  exercisers  at  the  inectin,!_'dii)ns(>,  with  ai'ins,  as 
ii>iial.  liv  their  sides,  when  the  Indians  came  upon  them. 
Sn  sudden  and  desperate  was  the  attack',  that  the\-  lieeairie 
Ceiifnsed,  and  niieht  have  lieeii  totally  discMiiiliteil,  but  t'op 
a  sMMii'.'e  and  unl(M)ke(l-l()r  cliampion.     'I'his  was  an   oM 

j  v.vaw,  willi  white  ami  llowini;'  locks,  and  unusual  costume, 
Hiie  appeared  iVom  some  unknown  ([Uaiter,  and  at  oucj 
;i.-s'iii:ed  thi^  commaiul  of  the  ]»anie-stricken  con-.Tcuation. 
Wit:,  ni;i''ai-y  skill  and  cooku'ss  he  diivetecj  everv  nia- 
iin'iui'c,  a'.i'-  so  reestal)lisii -d  iheir  (.•(>';li.(enee  and  sjiirit, 
ti;;u  die  et.emv  was  s[)eedily  pe.t  t<  ■  IliLdit.  1  ie  <iisapp<'are(l 
ii!iiii(  siatcly  aCter  the  en,u'a,LremeMt,  anil  M,n/\'o!'th"  asfon- 

I  i>i;i'd  mhaliitants  wen-  persuaileci  ihat  an  au' -el  from  ln'aveu 
liinl  Iv.Mi  miraculously  sent  n»r  ll'cir  dc!!\e!'ai!ce. 

Tlici'ld  warrior  was  no  other  than  ^hliol■-•J•(•nc^al  (iofle, 
w\'\  with  his  comjviiiion,  Whalley,  lay  I'oi- a  lou'jtime  con- 
cv;ilcil  at  the  house  of  Nfr.  Kiissi'll,  the  ministe?-  i^\'  Ilaillev. 
Tcii  nicTi  were  killed  at  Xorthlield  ak'oiit  tiiis  nme,  and 
;ii.:rtv()f  thirtv-six,  under  a  Captain  I'eers.  who  !iad  heeii 
so;  t  to  relieve  the  town,  wei-e  nearly  all  cit  <.>ll'  \>v  an 
iiinhush.  The  hodies  were  mutilat(>d.  and  tie  heads  set 
on  )ioles.  "One,  (if  not  more.'')  sa\'s  I  Iid'l.a!-' ;,  "was  (ound 
uitii  a  chain  hooked  inro  his  ui.dei'  ja'r  and  so  huiiLr  up 
on  the  houiih  of  a  tree,  (it  is  fcarcil  h  .lUnLT  up  alive.'') 

S(>verai  thousand  hushels  of  core  ...hI  lieeii  sto?-eil  at 
Oi'd-iield,  audi  a  eompaiiy  of  nearly  one  hundred  \-ouniT 
i:n  n.  "the  fhjwer  of  tlie  counti'v,"  under  the  eommand  uf 


*f 


*  =  ♦,!*;!■ 


f 


,» ;' 


I  III 


:hi 


218 


INDIAN    HACKS   OF  AMKUICA. 


a  youtlifal  am!  ;^allaiit  ofliccr,  (^iptaiii  Lallimp,  marclicd 
to  Hrcuii;  it.  ')ii  ilicir  way,  an  iniiiifiisc  Ixxly  of  ludiiins 
Icll  ii|'<Mi  I'.H'iii,  aii.l  slrw  nearly  llii;  wliole  jiarly;  anioirr 
tlic  vr>\,  the  liiMve  cDniinanfl'T ;  only  hcmmi  or  (;i;jjii  sur- 
vl\''ii.  'I'liis  ilct'cal  is  altrihiitt'il  to  tlu;  circunistaiicr  iIkiI 
l,at!iri>|t,  awaie  ot"  tht>  disiulviuitages  wliieli  a  conii.aii 
iH..ly  111   lni«)|i.s  must  la!)or  umlrr,  when  contemlin;,'  witii 


1  f  I 


an  t'ii'.ni\  wlio  aiwaws  linMi  ii'(^ni  cover,  onlcrcd  Ins  i 


llirli 


to  s('|iiiratt',  and  takf  to  tlio  trees,  like  their  ojijiomii! 
This  i»ein;^f  don  ■,  the  dis|iroj)ortioi:  of  niunlters  jiro\ed  ■ 
'^rtat,   that    th."    Indians    were    enahh'd    to    sun'ouiid    ll 


Kn'_flisli,  and  eiil  them  oil" 


si'|)arately, 


The  Siirin.iitield  Indians  had  I iretendi'il  unbroken  I 


riei. 


ship  iiir  the  whites,  ani 


1  iiad 


i\en    hosla^'es  as  j 


ue(||j"cs  (I 


^'ood  Caitli;  hut  the  hostap's  snei'eeded  in  eseajiin'j",  ai.'l 
lh(>  wli(»le  iiody  joined  the  hostile  eonledei'aev,  with  I'in.-v 
of  Iladhy,  "  han,L,dn^  to;jetlier  like  serpent's  (jjys."  Tin- 
town  ol'  Spl-in;^rield  received  ereat  ii'Mil'V  IVom  tlii;r 
altaek,  inoi'e  than  ihirtv  housi-s  liein;^  'i!..!ie<j;  anionii  ij.i' 
rest,  one  eon'aininL;-  a  ''hrave   liinarv,"  the  ,ini'.-t   in   tli;it 


)ai 


t  of  the  eoui 


itrv,  w 


hi-'ll  belomjcd   to  the   iu'V.   I 


ilovei', 


ultliart!  considers  that  this  act 


'tlld,  more  tli;iil 


1 

( 

any  other,  diseoMr  In  •  said  actors  to  he  tl 

d(>vil,  fidl  of  all  sn!itiit\  and.  malice,"  as  the\-  had  heci 

fri(Midl\'  terms  with  the  \vhites  for  nuwe  than  foit 


eiali.Mi 


le  eniiiiren  <  i 


I    Ki-ll 


\'  \r ;.]■-. 


On  the  llMh  of  ()ctol)er,  seven  or  eijht  hnndidl  nf 
l^hilip's  loadijntois  m;i  le  an  atl'inpt  upon  llatfuld;  hi.t, 
thc^  place  I'ciiiL;  well  defended,  liv  Moselv  and  otliei.-,  tlio 


eneinv      were  >o  we!!  en 


teilained  on  all  hands,  thai  t! 


found  it  loo  hot  lor  tl 


lein. 


This  was  the  last  in'Oortaiit  <'ii'j-aLT'tnent  at  the  westwai'l 


part  of  llie  colony.      Most  of  I' 
to   have   lietakeii    thcmse]  vi  s,  1 
'ansett  eounti'v;  and   whether  the  ^"I'eat  ;achem  him-^'-'if 


iihjis  men   ai'e  supjHi- u 
)e|i )i'e  w  inter,  tl >  the   Nall.l- 


\^ 


reiUiiMiecl  eoncealeu  amon"-  tiieiii   durnej'  that   season    of 


NKW  KNiiLAND   INDIANS. 


2-19 


waiulcrcd  to  tl»c  west,  liatfliinu;  in'w  jildl.-  in  the  vicinity 
oftlio  Hudson,  is  not  cortaiiilv  known. 

Tlio  condition  oftlio  lio.-tiK-   Indians,  iiotwitlistandinL; 
tlicir  si'^ial  successes,    must   liv    lliis   tiim'   have   l)cconic 


^ullificnllv  niiscra 


hlc.      I 


ivni;j;  alnicl    .xchisiNcly   niinn 


iiiiiiiial  lood ;  ill  ju'otcctcd  from  the  iucl 'niencics  ol'  llic 
wt'iitlicr;  and  continually  shilling'  their  tjuartiM's,  it  is 
siiri'iisin;^'  that  they  should  so  long  liaNO  I'elaincd  their 
ciR'rL'V  and  li.\cdnr,-s  oC  jiur|ios('. 

In  Sc|itcinhci' of  this  ycai',   1  C?."!,  the  coniniissioneis  of 
tlh'  uiiile(l  colonies  ol'  IM\nioMth,  ( "nnn<  ci'cut,  and  Massa- 


(iiu.M 


'tts,h(  in''-  in  scs.-iou  at  ini^tt 


ded 


oil,  (1  iiiciiKieii  arrant'ejiieiiis 


hv  which  the  war  shoiiM  l.c  j,.iiit!v  and  systiiiiatii-all  \' 
[inisi'cuted.  One  thousaml  vm  n  '"eri"  to  he  le\icd  and 
(■'|ili]ij»ed  ;  the  proporti-  Ui  which  eaeli  colon  y  should  furnisli 
liciiij,'  settled  aeeordiii,^  to  their  eoiiiparativo  J)' ipiilat ion 


ilnl  resources. 


line 


On   the  I'd    of   Xovenilier   it  was   a'_rrecd,  li\-   the   .s; 
"Iv,  lli;;t  an  additional  lofcc  ,-honld  he  r;M  ;ed,  and  aeti\  - 


ineii.-nrcs  he  taken  a.:ainst  t  he  Narrn'Mnset!-.     The  i 


eas<  iii.s 


i'I''(hjc(l  I'll 


r  aitackiiiL'  this  trihc  were,  that  tlie  siipnlati 


on 


iii.i'lc  liy  those  saidieins,  ^vho  had  treat''d  v  Ilh  iheeoldiiics 
t.i  (Icjivei-  lip  all  of  Philip's  pari  \'  who  shoiihi  take  ret'ii^ue 
:it  Xarraiiaiiselt,  had  not  hccii  I'ulUlled;  hut  that  women, 
fliil'lreii,  ami  wounded  men  had  heen  succored  ami  reei'i\T(l 
l'\  tlieml  in  luhlilioii  to  this,  some  of  the  trihe  had  ex- 
I'l'i'ss'il  satisfaetioM  irpou  hearing  ol'  the  Indian  .-ui'cesscs 
lit  Iladie^,  and  it  was  'credihly  n^|ioi'ti'd"  that  the\-  had 
killi'd  ;iiidi  taken  awas'  many  cattle  from  the  neijihl.oiim.j' 
Kii'-''!'.sh.  'ri.es(^,  with  a  detiMition  of  a  Mr.  Smith  and  his 
l.iNiily,  lor  ii  short  tune,  - 'i<>  other  harm  Inun-j;  done 
tiiem,  Were  ;il]  the  (.stensihle  L'^rouiids  upon  which  a 
I'lrmiilahle  army  wa<  sent  to  extei'ininale  the  Narragan- 
^'tts  with  Tire  and  swoid  I 
No  doiiht  tlii'ir  sympat'iies  were  with  th  iso  of  their  own 


1  ■  ' 

,1- 

:d 

il 

;4 


IP 


^1 


250 


INDIAX  HACKS  OF  AMKKICA. 


raco,  011(1,  liiul  they  fully  JoIikmI  the  (•()iis])ir.'i('y,  tlieaddltior; 
of  so  iiuiiicious  a  ti'ilu"  to  the  ciiciiiy  iiiiuiit  have;  tii 
tlic  scale,  aii'l  rcsiiltcil  in  the  aiiiiihilatioii  of  the  \vliit( 
.losias    W  iiisiow,   uovci'iiDi'   of    1*1  viiioiitli    cdliiiiv 


riicU 


W;n 


IllllVil, 


clioscii  (•oiiiiiiaiMlci'-iii-cliicf  of  the  MuLilish  (orcc.  ( 
at  the  i'('i|ii('st  ol'  W'iiislow,  joiiiril  llic  rxjicdition,  ajtlinimli 
lie  Would  not  acccjit  of  a  eiunuiission.  A  cousidci'ablo 
])ody  of  Moju'^aus,  sulijrcts  of  I'licas,  aeconijiaiiicil  the 
(lrfa<'liiiHMit  Iroiu  <  'oniiccticiit. 


iVftcr  dcstroviu,tr  iiiaiiv  dcscrtod  wiijfu'arns,  and  tal 


<ni<';i 


considerable  nuiulier  of  prisoners  in  desultoi'v  warfare,  a 
<j;uide  was  obtained  to  jilot  the  invaders  to  the  chief  tnit 
of  the  Narrii'j'ansetts.  'J'iie  eiicani]ii!  ent  covered  live  nr 
six  acres  of  ele\;ited  u'roiuid,  foiniiiLr  an  isl;ind  in  tlir 
midst  of  an  extensive  swamp.  In  ;iddition  to  the  n;itiii';il 
defences  of  the  pluee,  the  whole  villaire  was  suri'innnlcd 
by  a  stroii'j'  palisade,  and  the  only  means  of  a]ipr(i;irli 
was  by  ei'ossinLT  the  marsli  upon  a  huLie  fallen  tice.  The 
wiLTwams  within,  to  the  number  of  live  oi'  six  hu'idivij, 
Avere  I'emlereij,  to  a  en-it  extent,  bullet-proof  bv  jiiliia:  im 
tubs  of  ijrain  and  ollu'r  stores  about  the  sides. 

It  was  upon  the  ll»th  of  J)eeend)er,  early  in  the  aftrr- 
noon,  that  the  I'ln^dish  Ibrce.s  i-cacheil  this  place  of  retivnt. 
With  (li'tennine(|  and  di'S])ei'ate  coui'au'e  thev  i-ushed  to  tin' 
attack.  l'"i!e  aflei'  lile  of  soldieis,  with  their  olllceis  ;it 
their  head,  was  swi'pt  from  the  mii'row  bridj^e  by  tlic  liiv 
of  a  ])arty  within,  j)osted  in  a  1o,l,'  hut,  iVom  which  tiic 
ap])roach  was  eonnnande(L  'I'liey  continued  to  ]ircss  o!i. 
and  succeeded  in  drivin,<,' the  Indians  from  thiscovcit  iiiti' 
tlie  main  intdosure.  A  scene  of  teriible  carnaLic  ensiuti 
f(»r  several  hours;  but  ihe  assailants  stead ilv  i^ained  L'^rouiid, 


.ftl 


toth 


d 


di'nni.L''  many  o!  tUe  enemy  into  tlic  swamp,  ana  covering 
the  area  within  with  dea<l  bodies. 


("hureli.  w 


lo  nat 


I  mad 


e  a 


n  excursion,  with  a  small  ]i;irtv 


into  the  swamp,  to  attack  th(>  Inibans  in  the  real', 


ami  wli" 


till'  army,    » 

(.■oiiid   reach 

.•ilaiiccs  to   t 

niit;iiiiiii,u'   p 

uiici'c    tlu'    ' 

W'c  will  hop 

mrnrtuiiale  \ 

rruwded,  Ibri 

The    Li'cnei 

clli'vi's,   fcai'i 

''a<  111  in  forcL' 

'111'  ni,L;lit,  ve| 

.-'nii'tJoll  pi'or 

;;t  the  f(U't  ol 

".viiiiii'ii  and  cl 

wiiiiis,  or   na 

iluhhard,  the 

"f  this   ''lii'ii 

s)!i(>aky  ceil.Sj 

j'ariiii,^  thcii- 

;!>.Miilt   j)ut  t 

i'"e!ii  too  hot 

iiiitchiu  fried 

tlifir  snjipers 

I'lMvisioiKs,  as 


\.:\ 


i-- 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


251 


afti'r  (loin^  j^'ood  service^,  was  .severely  wcMindcd  in  the 
tliii;!).  stviii;^^  some  seltin^i,'  tire  to  tlir  wigwams,  iii;iile 
.stivii iioi IS ellorts  to  j)reveiittlu'ir  destruction.  Tlic  wr.itlirr 
was  iiitt'iisclv  eold;  night,  was  coming  on;  many  of  tlie 
tiMdjis  were  de.stitute  of  provisions;  a  heavy  snow  stmiu 
was  hrooding;  and  sixteen  miU's  must  \)v.  travcrsc(l  liy 
tho  aruiv,  «.'neunil)crcil  hy  tlicir  woun(h'(l,  hcl'oi-c  the}' 
coiiM  reach  .shcltci".  Ife  ri'})resented  all  tlics<!  circnni- 
.-Jtaiiccs  to  the  gi'nei'al,  jxiinting  out  the  advantages  of 
iilitaiiiiiig  iilentiful  supplies  of  fooil,  and  a  wartn  cuver 
ulifie  tin;  wtinnilc(l  could  I'eeeive  reipiisite  atteiitinn. 
W'c  will  lii>p(,'  that  some  feelings  of  humanity  towai'ils  the 
iiiifnrtunate  women  ami  childi-cii,  with  which  the  huts  were 
crowded,  formed  a  part  of  his  motives  for  this  advice. 

The  gcnei'al  incline(l  to  Cdiureh's  counsel,  hut  other 
elliui'is,  A-aring  that  the  Indians  would  I'ally  and  at1;iek 
tli'ia  in  force,  sln^uld  tlu>  army  take  u])  their  (piarters  l()r 
•ill'  night,  vehemently  o]ij)()sed  him,  ami  the  work  of  de- 
s'liu'tjoii  pi-oceeileil.  Now  was  h'enaeted  the  terriMe  scene 
at  the  full  of  the  i*e(piots.  (ireat  imnd>ers  < if  old  men, 
■.viuiii'U  and  children  wci'c  hui'Ucd  alive  in  the  hhi/.ing  wig- 
wams, or  mercilessly  slain  in  their  attempts  to  escape, 
iluhiiard,  the  reverend  historian  of  the  Indian  wai's,  spcak'.s 
I't  this  "lli'ing  of  at  least  live  or  six  hundre(l  oi'  their 
siiioakv  cells,''  as  follows:  Tlu!  Indians  wei'e  ahout  ])re- 
I'ariiig  their  dinner  when  "our  sudden  and  uiie.\|iccteil 
assault  put  them  hesiiU;  that  work,  making  their  cook- 
rnuiii  too  hot  for  them  at  that  time,  when  they  and  their 
iiiiti'liin  fried  tv)getlier;  and  pi'ohahly  .^ome  of  them  cat 
t'liir  suppt'rs  in  a  colder  jilacc  that  night:  Most  of  their 
I'mvisions,  as  well  as  huts,  being  then  I'onsiimed  with  lire, 
aail  tlio.se  that  were  lelt  alive  I'oivcd  to  hide  themselves  in 
lu'i'dar  swamp,  not  I'ar  oil",  where  they  had  nothing  to  '^e- 
i'^itl  them  from  the  coM  hut  houghs  of  s]ii'uce  and  pine 
tivcs."     The  whoh;  town  was  reduced  to  ashes;  anil,  leav* 


'  Iti 

1 

1  \ 

1 

1 
1 

n 


1 1: 


li 


r^ 


■■ ;?!  (  i 


« 

1 

.  1 


lil 


fl' 


■  i: 


i)  f 


r~.Tzr: 


^^ 


252 


INDIAN   IJACKS  OF  AMKUK  v. 


wn 


iriL,'  the  iin'li>sur(' a  Hiii(»l;iii;^'  niiti,  every  wlifrostrc 
l»iinir(l  and   maii^dcd  i'i»r|)S('s,  the  jirmy  ooiniiiciicnl  j 
trral,  wdi'm  <tut  hy  culd,  l;itij:;ii<;  and  Inm^^cr.     Manv 
isiicd  l>y  iIk'  way,  and   many  niori-  innst  ha\«'  di«d  I 
sturvaf  i(»n,  Imt  I'nf  the  loiliuiatt!  arrival  at  tlii'ir  rend- 


/v 


ol"  a  vr>,-.  1  I'i'ini  Iidslon  willi  [H'ovisions. 

J'ii;ilify  »»r  their  nnnilfr  urrc  killed,  an<]  one  Inn.i 
and  lilty  wonndcd  in  I  he  en^Mgenient.  Jle.sides  an  uu 
nuinlxi'  of  the  hcljijess  oeeupants  of  tlio  wi^^wain.s 
perisiird  in  tln'  flames,  it.  was  .supposed  that  not  I'ai-  I 
three  liundrtMl  Indian  warriui'.s  W('re  slain  outri,L'lit, 
seven  hundred  woumled,  of  whom  many  dii'tl  IVuni  c: 
sure  tliiiin,L,^  tlie  storm  and  e«ild  ol'  that  teri'iltl.-  ni-hl. 

Most  ol"  lh(^  survivors  t>r  the  trilie  Ih'il  lothf  .\i|piiiii 
nrt''r  somi'  incon.du^ive  ncjotiati'Mi  Tor  pracc  wiili  | in'  | 
lish.  The  old  sadifni  Nini;irrt  si  ruis  to  lia\''  1m-cii  in 
to  make  terms,  t)Ut  ( 'anouieus,  or  ('anonelnt,  a  son  of  M 
toninio,  and  a  brave  and  ener^fetie  eliief,  noiii'i.-lu'd  the  i 
unyieldiii'^  hostility  towards  the  dcsti'oyrr  uf  his  |>ii)| 


()n  the  l<lth  oClaiiuai'v,  an  Indian  was  found 


Ci  llH'i 


in  a  ham,  "hut  after  Ik-  was  lirou,i;ht  to  the  head-ijiun 
(in  th 


e  woi'ds  ol    Ilidiliardj  "  he   would  own    iiothni 


hat  was  forred  out  of  his  mouth  hv  th 


(>    iri  iiijil  I  III    nj 


hrdd  irltli  a  rnfil^  wherefore  lie  was  presently  jud.^ed  ti 
as  a  WampanoaLT." 

One  Tilt,  an  MiiLilish  reni''^;ade,  wlio  liail  jcjincil  lli 


(1 


(Hans,  marriiMi  one  o 


)f  their  women,  and  a>si.-ted  t 


ifi 


th<'ir  liattlcs  witii  the  whites,  was  taken  ami  jMit  to  dt 
Winslow,   in  the  hitter   |>art  of  .lanuai'v,   puisucd 
Nan'a,L,'ansettH   into  the  Xipimu;k  country,   whillur 
had  llt'd,  eominitting  divers  deprechitions  on  the  refute, 
killi'fl  altout  soventv  of  those  whom  he  could  eoiiit 


with. 


I  he  larif'T  poi'tion,  iKnvever.  succ(>eded  in  j 
the  foi'C'S  of  the  Nipmuek.s,  while  the  I'liifilish  we 
pelled  to  retu'-n  to  t!ie  settleiiient  fur  want  of  ])rov 


I-e  I 


l.-li 


H 

I'liiiip  1' 

H 

«Tst  as  the 

I 

(MiiJiawkM 

H 

el'  liis  nieiij 

H 

tlinr<.  iiotwi 

H 

cut  at  varioi 

(jiiriii;.'  the 

t"M  '     ■ 

.\\»<\\\  th 

who         ■ 

(I'st  roved  h 

H 

imieks,    N;i 

H 

Sa;.'amore  S 

1 

tcr,  wliiih  w 

H 

was  set  on   1 

^H 

livt's.     .Moi'< 

1 

till'   hands 

iii>'(l      H 

well  treated 

'    ■ 

III)  Wl'oii;^  t 

H 

Ilet    lielji,  he 

I 

laiidson,  wil 

■ 

and  her  aeei 

H 

in.:s>rd  diirii 

I 

CC'odiiiLdy  in 

H 

<'liuivli  s; 

m1:i',         ^I 

at  the  falls  ( 

I  rertions  con 

'  III-           ■ 

in  l''e!>ruary 

II         H 

Oil    the    '_' 

1 

ahout  twent 

,  H 

i  The  Iinlians 

H 

oils  iii'jlit.  i 

■ 

dawn,  lircd  ; 

■ 

dred  and  si 

H 

;  80  sudden  a 

^H 

'  impossihle  U 

H 

fire.     Nearl 

1 

^^1 

fit 


NKW  KNf'.I.AM)    IMMANS. 


j.»o 


l'lii!i;i  i-:  sMiipuscil  to  liiivc  i]r>\  ultout  this  linn'  as  far 
west  ; IS  till'  IIii'ls'>ii  river,  uliriv,  it  is  said,  '"llir  Molniu^ 
(Mi)lia\vi<s)  iiiaili'  a  ilrsci'iit,  upon  him,  aii'l  hil!i''l  iiiaiiv 
(•!'  his  iiicii,  whirh  inovt'd  him  I'loiii  thriicc."  Soiim-  uu- 
tiiors,  iii'twithst.Mnliii;.',  s]n';i!<  of  him  us  huviii;^'  Ik'cii  juts- 
ciittit  various  jilaivs  in  M.is-achu.-i'tts,  ailaekfl  hy  Imlians 
dniiiiu'  the  hittt-r  part  of  thi-  winter. 

Ahoiit  iho  loth  of  Fchniarv,  (oM  styh',)  Laiieaster  \v:us 
(li'Stroycd  l)y!i  hir^'c;  force  of  the  ciieiny,  eousistiii;.,' of  Nij»- 
iiiiielvs,   Nashawas,   and    Nari'a-j'atisells,    luith'r   the'    iioleil 


■a'.'amorc  >ain. 


Theh 


loiise  of  Mr.  I[o\vhin<l.son,  the  minis- 


t'T,  whieh  was  ^""arrisoiicil,  and  (MUitaiiied  lifty-five  peisons, 
was  set  on  lii'e,  and  th<'  inmates  were  kilhd  or  made  raj)- 
lives.  More  than  twenty  women  and  ehihlren  llH  into 
llic  hands  of  the  assaihnits.  They  were  most  of  them 
well  treateil  diiriuj^  their  eaptisity,  tlie  Indians  "ollenn^ 
no  wroni,'  to  any  of  their  persons  save  wh.at  they  coidd 
net  lielp,  l»ein;^'  in  many  wants  them-^e'ves.''  Mi's.  K'ow 
laiidson,  wife  of  the  minist'-r,  was  ainoiiL,'  \\\r.  jirisoncis, 
and  her  account  of  Indian  mannei's  ;iiid  peeuharities,  wit- 
tiosM'd  (hirin;^  the  three  miJi.ths  of  hei'  captivity,  are'  i'\- 
ci'0(hn'_dv  inten\stin;x. 


CI 


lUreJi  s 


:iys  that  Phdips  next 


;eiiiH  llinLr-l'laee"'  wa.s 


at  the  falls  on  tin;  Connecticut,  an 

th 


1   h 


le  proliahly  ;.'ave  <li- 


rcctions  coneernnii;  manv  of  the  (h'\'astations  commi 
ill  K 


itted 


ruary  and  March,  il' not  personally  present  at  tlcin. 
Oil  the  '21st  of  l-'ehlMiary,  the  town  of  Mi'dlleld,  only 
ahout  twenty  miles  from  Hoston,  was  mostly  destroyed. 
The  Indians  had  concealed  themselves,  diiriii;'  .he  jnvv  i- 
oiis  !ii'jlit.  in  every  (jiiarter  of  the  place,  atid,  at  e.iily 
ilauii,  lii-cd  aljout  lil'ty  huildinijfs  simultaneously,  ( )ne  Inin- 
dnd  ;ind  sixty  soldiers  wi're  (piarti'red  in  the  town,  hui 
80  sudden  and  well  conceited  was  the  attack,  that  it  waH 
impessil)le  to  save  tho  building's  whii'li  had  been  m  l  oh 
fire.      Nearly    forty   of   the    inhabitants   were    killed    or 


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r  i 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


4^% 


1 1 


it    u..h 


2:.t 


INDIAN  KACES  OF   AMERICA. 


WMiiiiilcd.  Being  compelled,  fit  last,  to  I'^trcat  ncross 
<'l.aiK'S  river,  the  Jiidiaiis  burned  the  bridge  behind  tliom. 
and  left  u  paper,  written  by  some  of  ihcnr  number  who  liad 
rcrcived  education  from  the  JMiglish,  to  tin;  (ollowinif 
(■(I'ect:  "  Know,  by  this  paper,  that  the  Indians  whom  tln.u 
iiast  })i'()\-oked  to  wrath  and  anger,  will  war  this  '^  I  \c;ir< 
if  \'<)U  will.  There  are  many  Indians  yet.  AVe  ennie  ."Inii 
at  this  time,  ^'ou  must  consider  the  Indians  lose  notliiiii,' 
but  their  life:   You  must  lose  your  fair  houses  and  caltlo.'' 

One  account  states  that  Philip  himself  was  seen  at  this 
action,  "riding  upon  a  black  horse,  leaping  over  lenccs, 
and  exultin'j;  in  the  havoc  he  was  making." 

Through  the  months  of  IMu'uary  and  Nrarch,  the  sav- 
ages met  with  signal  success,  '■^eckonk,  Gi'oton  ami  War- 
wick were  destroyed;  Northampton  was  assaulte(l;  one 
house  was  burned  in  the  very  town  of  Plymotifh,  and  a 
number  of  buildings  at  Weymouth,  only  cloven  miles  l'\ov.\ 
Boston,  shared  a  similar  fate.  Thii-ty  houses  were  bnninl 
at  Providence.  Ca{)tain  i?ierce,  of  Scituate,  whohadhciii 
sent  with  a  J)arty  of  lifty  whites  and  a  number  of  friendly 
Indians  on  an  excursion  against  the  enemy,  v.-as  slaii), 
with  the  entire  company  of  English,  Only  a  lew  of  the 
Indian  allies  escaped. 

On  the  same  dav,  ^[arlborough  was  destroved,  with  the 
excc[)tion  of  the  houses  which  had  b"en  garrisoned.  This 
attack  was  probably  made  by  Philip  himself,  with  the 
Nipmuck  and  Narragansett  Indians.  Continuing  their 
march,  they  did  much  damage  at  Sudbury,  and  "met  and 
swallowcil  up  valiant  Captain  Wadsworth  and  his  com- 
pany," consisting  of  fifty  men,  with  whom  he  was  hastening 
to  the  relief  ol  the  town. 

Oiu;  of  the  first  severe  reverses  experienced  by  Philip, 
was  the  capture  and  execution  of  the  younger  Canonicus 
or  Canonchct,  the  noblest  and  most  influential  of  the  Nar- 
ragansett sachems.     This  was  accomplished  by  a  l^arty 


:\E\V  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


255 


1,.',1  1)V  Capt.'iiii  DLMinison,  fi-om  Connecticut,  consisting  of 
lliiLilish,  Nebantic  Indians,  sulijcct  to  Xinign-t,  and  Mohe- 
j-;iiis,  under  the  coniinand  of  Owcnoco,  son  ol'  I'ncas. 
('aiioncliet,  -vvitli  a  small  liaiid  of  warriors,  canie  to  Nai'ia- 
"aiisett  early  in  Aju'il,  I'or  the  piirpose  (jC  |)i-(;curing  sct'd- 
corii  lor  his  p('o])le  in  the  \V(>stern  sctthMui'iils.  Ocnnisdii, 
liaviiig  heard,  from  a  captive  sipiaw,  of  the  sachem's 
proximity,  pursued  and  took  him. 

The  proud  chief,  upuii  his  eaj)ture,  heing  addr(\-;sed  hy 
a  young  man  of  the  party,  according  to  lluhbard,  '"look- 
ing with  a  little  n(>glec.t  upon  his  youthCul  face,  roplii'<l  in 
broken  I'higlish:  'you  much  chilil:  no  understaiul  matti'i's 
of  war,  let  your  brother  or  your  chief  come:'  acting  herein 
as  if,  hy  a  Pythagorean  metemj)syeiiosis,  some  old  Jionian 
ghost  hail  possess(-d  the  hody  of  this  western  J'agan."  lie 
wa?  carried  to  Stiuiington,  and  tliei-e  shot:  his  head  \\;i.s 
Stilt  to  Ilartf  )rd  as  a  trojihy.  IK'  ap[iroved  hi-'  sentence, 
saying  that  '"he  should  die  hefoi-e  his  heart  A\as  soft,  and 
hel'ere  he  had  s])oken  any  thing  nnwonliv  of  himself."' 
lie  hud  been  I'hilip's  fiithful  ally  to  the  last,  and  ever 
refused  to  '"deliver  up  a  W'amjianoag,  or  the  pai'in'j;  of  a 
Wampanoag's  nail,"  to  the  hliiiilisli.  I'ennisoii  :md  his 
men  afterwards  made  fui'lher  s{)oil  of  the  enem\-,  killing 
and  capturing  a  large  nund)er  of  tlie  Xarraganselts. 

Itiu'ing  the  months  of  April  and  May,  twentv  or  tlurtv 
hiiildings  were  l)Ui'n(>d  in  l^lymonth;  'raiuiton  and  Scjtiiate 
were  attacked,  and  15ridgewater  sustained  no  small  injury 
from  an  assault  hy  three  hundred  Indians,  under  the 
saclieui  Tisg;uon:cn. 

(ireat  nund)ers  of  hostile  Indians  having  congregated  at 
the  falls  of  the  Connecticut,  during  the  month  of  Mav,  for 
the  purpose  of  fishing,  a  strong  force  of  soldiers  and  inhah- 
itants  of  the  towns  on  the  river,  under  the  conmiand  of 
(-a{)tains  Ilolyoke  and  Turner,  made  a  descent  upon  tluMn. 
The  Indians  were  encamped  in  careless  security,  and,  the 


1 

■luk.i^!: 

f     *' 

.  ,.!■ 

J 


•Ml     .  \%  i 


250 


INDIAN'    HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


attack  being  made  in  tlic  niglit,  some  two  luiiulnMl  wi.to 
killed,  or  dfowned  in  attcnijtting  to  cscajjc  across  the  river. 
]n  tlie  midst  oClliis  success  it  was  reported  to  the  lui'i-lish 
l>y  an   Indian,   that  JMiilij)  in  person,   with   an  iinnieiise 
force,  was   coining   upon   them.     Commencing  a  n^reat 
upon  this  news,  the  Indians  recovered  from  their  iiaiiic, 
and  jmrsning  the  ])art_v  from  which  they  had  .so  reeentlv 
lied  in  confusion,  killed  from  thirty  to  foi'ty  of  their  mniilnT. 
On    the   oOlli   of   May,    six   linndred  Indians  attaekcd 
Ilatlielil,  and   hiiru'd  many  Luildings,  but  tlie  ))lace  was 
bravely  defended,  and  the  enemy  was  driven  off.     A  still 
hii'ger  nnnd)er,  about  a  fnrtinght  later,  assaulted  Iladlev, 
but,  by  the  assistance  of  ti'ooj)s  from  Connecticut,  the  iu 
habitants  successfully  repelled  them. 


CIIATTER  YII. 

rini.!p's  Rrri'uN  to  poKA^oKirr — major  tai.cott's  succksses— 
ciiiTKcir  eoMM.'ssinMCF)  i!v  Tin:  coiiPtT  at  Plymouth — his  in- 

TKIiVIKW  WITH  AWOSIIONKS:    WITH  THE  SOGKONATES  AT 
SANDWICH HIS  CA.MPAICN  AC  A  INST  THK  INDIANS — 

riiM.ip  si;i;n  :    his   wii-k   and   son  taken — 

DEATH  OK  WKI:TAM0KE,  QUEEN  OF  POCAS- 
SET DEATH  OF  PHILIP. 

Piirur's  power  was  now  upon  the  decline:  his  forces 
•were  (bscontented,  and  in  s('j)arate  bodies  wandered  al'OiU 
tlie  countiy,  undergoing  much  liardsliip  and  ]>rivatiuii. 
Losing  induencc  with  the  river  Indians,  and  unable  to 
concentrate  the  various  tril)es,  with  cffeet,  he  rcturneil  to 
Ins  old  quarters  in  the  vicinitv  of  Narragansett  bav,  ac- 
companied  by  the  trusty  warriors  wlio  still  adliered  to  liim. 

Major  Talcott,  from  Connecticut,  with  a  body  of  mounted 
men,  accompanied  by  many  Mohegans  and  Pequots,  sig- 


ill 


".rJi, 


\    !'i      i 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


257 


nalizcd  himself  during  the  month  of  June,  l\v  several 
incursions  into  Narrngansctt.  On  a,  siUL-'le  oet-asion,  he 
killcfl  a  irrrat  numl»er  of  the  enemv,  anil  look  from  one  to 
two  luiiitlrril  ]M'isoiK>rs.  'I'o  the  ovei'lastiii.L''  ilis,ij,"raee  nf 
tlir'  wliiti's  of  this  eompany,  they  allowcil  their  Molif-'an 
allios,  upon  one  occasion,  to  torture  to  death  a  y<jmig 
warrior  who  :vas  made  prisoner.  "The  En<ilish,"  says 
Ihihhard,  "at  this  time  were  not  unwilling  to  gratify  their 
humor,  lest,  hy  a  denial,  they  might  disoblige  their  Indian 
friends — partly,  also,  that  they  might  have  an  ocular 
(htiv. ml  ration  of  the  savage,  barbarous  cruelty  of  the 
h"athen."  This  young  warrior  had  killed,  as  ho  averred, 
manv  Englishmen,  and  now,  the  narrative  ]:)roceeds,  "this 
niniister  is  fallen  into  the  hands  of  those  that  will  ]X'})ay 
liini  seven-fold." 

The  Mohegans  cut  round  the  joints  of  his  fmgcrs  and 
toos  successively,  and  then  "brock  them  off,  as  was  for- 
merly the  custom  to  do  with  a  slaughtered  beast."  The 
vji'tini  bore  all  unflinchingly;  replying  to  theii"  taunts, 
with  asseverations  tliat  he  "liked  the  war  well,  and  found 
it  iis  sweet  as  the  Englishm(ni  do  their  suij;ar."  '^fhev 
compelled  him  to  dance  and  sing  in  this  condition,  till  hi; 
liad'' wearied  himself  and  them,"  and  then  broke  his  legs. 
Sinking,  in  silence,  on  the  ground,  he  sat  till  they  finished 
Lis  miseries  by  a  blow.  Meanwhile,  the  English  stood  by, 
and,  although  the  sight  brought  tears  into  the  eyes  of 
some  of  them,  none  offered  to  interfere. 

Famine,  disease,  and  exposure  had,  by  this  time,  begun 
to  do  their  work  upon  the  miserable  outcasts  who  had  so 
lonir  kept  New  England  in  terror. 

A  large  body  fled  westward,  pursued  by  troops  from 
Connecticut,  and,  after  sustaining  considerable  loss,  sue 
ccedcd  in  joining  the  Mohicans  of  the  Hudson,  Avith  whom 
they  united,  and  formed  thereafter  a  portion  of  that  tribe 

The  colonial  authorities  now  offered  terms  of  peace  to 
17 


•| 


J 

I' 

■1 


r  ■  :r . 


fi 


#.•;;  \ 


'    ■ '  i 


I     iP: 


yiiK 

,               l„ 

ittlii' 

1              'T       :il|iPlM 

Hi 

1 

\i   * 

.     i 

'■  i 
,i  ■  ■ 

■^ 

li 
If  ii 

4 

258 


INDIAN   ItACKS  OP  .V-MEUICA. 


the  enemy,  promising  good  treiilmcnt  to  nil  wlm  *houla 
surrender  and  deliver  up  their  arms,  \vitli  the  cxeojition 
of  notorious  oll'enders.  Within  a  few  weeks  iVum  tlii.s 
proclamation,  live  or  six  hundi'ed  of  the  Indians  canic  in 
and  submitted  to  the  JMiglish.  Some  of  their  eliifrs.  ainl 
noted  wai'riors,  and  those  who  had  Ijeeii  ehiellv  (■•Micriiiril 
in  tlie  outrages  upon  the  settlements,  were  ])ut  to  dr.itli; 
the  others  had  lands  assigned  them;  were  disarniuil,  a:, J 
kept  under  the  surveillance  of  overseers. 

As  Church  took  so  prominent  a  j)art  in  the  linal  n  Jnc- 
tion  of  Philip  and  his  chief  sachems,  we  will  now  hiicllv 
review  liis  proceedings  during  this  summer  until  tlnMloalij 
of  JMiilip  and  the  close  of  the  war.  lie  had  been  sum- 
rnoned  to  Plymouth  in  the  sjn'ing,  to  assist  at  the  cuuiuil 
of  war,  and,  at  that  time,  pi'oll'ered  advice,  which,  if  ap- 
provc'd  by  his  associates,  might  have  saved  much  havn^^ 
and  bloodshed.  His  ])lan  was  to  "make  a  business  ul  The 
war,  as  the  enemy  did;"  to  employ  large  forces;  to  ciili,-t 
all  the  friendly  Indians  who  were  available,  and  topuis:ic 
their  opponents  into  their  own  country,  and  fight  tlicni  in 
their  own  manner.  Not  being  able  to  persuade  tlic  ai- 
thorities  to  his  views,  he  remained  inactive,  with  hi.i 
family,  at  Duxbury  and  on  llhode  Island,  until  oai-jy  in 
June,  when  he  again  betook  himself  to  Plymouth,  \v!n;io 
he  was  gladly  welcomed  by  the  general  court,  then  in 
session.  The  members  "told  him  they  were  glad  ti;  sec 
him  alive,  lie  replied,  he  was  as  glad  to  see  them  alive, 
for  he  had  seen  so  many  fires  and  smokes  towards  their 
side  of  the  country,  since  he  left  them,  that  he  couul 
scarce  eat  or  sleep  with  any  comfort,  for  fear  they  had  all 
been  destroyed.  For  all  traveling  was  stopped,  and  no 
news  had  ])asscd  for  a  long  time  together."  \ 

The  court  had  now  concluded,  a,ccording  to  Church's  j 
plan,  to  raise  a  large  force  of  I'higlish  and  Indians,  and  : 
eagerly  accepted  the  captain's  ofTer  of  cooperation.    Jlo  ; 


NI'.W  K.NdLAND  INDlANri. 


259 


was  to  return  to  llliode  Tplaiul,  and  tlioro  enlist  a  cirnpanv 
for  tli(>  campaign.  Keaching  I'lli/alx'th's  Islaml,  lu' could 
find  no  conveyance  homeward  other  than  a  canoe,  manned 
1)V  two  Indians.  Their  eourst!  took  them  n^'ar  Sogkonate 
(coinnionly  called  Seaconnet)  })oint,  the  wild  mass  of 
rocks  which  juts  into  the  ocean,  at  the  southern  extremity 
of  Awoshonk's  domains.  ( 'hurch  saw  some  of  the  Indians 
tisliiiigupon  the  rocks,  and  hethonght  him  that  here  miglit 
be  lurtlHn-  opportunity  of  communicating  with  hi.s  old 
friend,  the  S([uaw  sacheni.  Notwithstanding  her  early 
counsel  with  Church,  she,  or  her  people,  against  her  incli- 
nations, had  been  drawn  into  IMiilip's  }>lans,  and  the 
Segkonates  had  taken  a(!tive  part  in  the  ho.stilities. 

The  canoe  was  soon  hailed  from  shore,  hut  the  surf  beat 
so  heavily  against  the  rocks  that  the  re{)ly  C(ju]d  not  be 
heard.  Two  Indian.s,  one  of  whom  was  George,  the  inter- 
preter, therefore  came  out  upon  a  long  point  of  sand, 
where  Church  could  land  without  danger  of  being  surprised, 
and,  on  liis  ajiproach,  they  informed  him  that  Awoshonks 
had  left  Philip,  and  would  be  glad  to  have  a  conference 
with  him.  An  a})pointment  was  therefore  made  lor  u 
meeting,  on  the  next  day  that  the  weather  would  permit, 
at  a  welhknown  rock,  upon  the  Richmond  farm.  None 
were  to  be  pi'esent  except  the  (jucen,  her  son  Peter,  and 
Numpash,  an  Indian  known  to  Church. 

Arriving  at  Newport,  and  detailing  his  plans  to  the 
authorities,  they  pronounced  him  demented  to  think  of 
risking  himself  unprotected  among  such  a  body  of  the 
enemy.  He  replied  that  he  had  always  wished  for  an 
opportunity  to  confer  with  the  Sogkonates,  not  doubting 
but  that  he  could  secure  their  friendship,  and  that  he  was 
determined  to  prosecute  the  adventure. 

lie  accordingly  crossed  over  the  next  day,  to  the  place 
appointed,  accompanied  only  by  "his  own  man,"  and  the 
Indian  ^\ho  had  paddled  him  from  Elizabeth's.     lie  was 


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260 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


fnct  by  tlio  queen  and  tlie  otlier  two,  who  had  been  dcsitr. 
Tiated;  but,  upon  retiring"  a  short  distance,  to  a  (.'onveuitMit 
sp(;t  for  (bscusriion,  a  crowd  of  armed  and  })aintod  war 
riors  .sprang  up  from  amid  the  long  grass  around  tlicm. 

Church  betrayed  no  signs  of  surprise  or  fear,  but,  Imviii;' 
first  obtained  directions  from  Awoshonks  tliat  the  ludiuiis 
sliould  lay  down  their  guns,  he  })ulled  out  a  bottle  of  nim, 
and  opened  the  conference  by  proifering  her  a  dram,  ask- 
ing, "if  she  had  been  so  long  at  Weetuset  as  to  forgut  to 
drink  Occaj)eches."  Having  first  swallowed  some  him- 
self,  from  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  to  quiet  any  suspicions 
of  treachery  that  she  might  entertain,  he  disti'ibutcd  tlic 
rest,  together  with  some  tobacco  that  he  had  bron,L''lit, 
among  those  standing  by.  lie  then  answered  her  iuquii- 
ies  as  to  the  reasons  why  he  had  absented  himself  so  Ion i:, 
using  all  his  powers  of  persuasion  to  revive  her  old  Irieii'l- 
ship  for  the  English;  promising  favor  and  protection  Irom 
the  government,  if  slie  would  enlist  her  forces  against 
Philip;  and  by  his  bold  and  frank  demeanor,  disarming 
the  suspicions  and  softening  the  surliness  of  the  warriors. 

At  one  time,  as  related  by  Church,  "there  arose  a  rni.irlity 
murmur,  confused  noise  and  talk  among  the  fiercedotjkiiig 
creatures;  and,  all  rising  up  in  a  hubbub,  a  great  surly- 
looking  fellow  took  up  his  tomhog,  or  wooden  cuthiss,  to 
kill  Mr.  Church,  but  some  others  prevented  him." 

This  man  had  lost  a  brother  in  the  fight  at  I'unkatcse, 
but  Church  explained  how,  with  only  a  handful  of  men, 
he  had  been  suddenly  set  upon,  and  how  his  intentions 
were,  even  then,  friendly  to  the  Sogkonatcs. 

Ilis  counsels  finally  prevailed,  and  it  was  agreed  that 
an  offer  of  services  should  be  made  at  Plymouth,  in  be- 
half of  the  tribe;  five  men  being  chosen  to  accompany 
Church  on  the  embassy. 

Having  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and,  with  much  dif- 
ficulty, procured  a  vessel,  Captain  Church  set  sail  for  Sog- 


NKW  KXGLANl)    INDIANS. 


261 


kouiUC,  wlu'iicx'  tlio  (rulians  espied  liitn,  and  stood  waiting 
upon  the  nx'k.s  with  an  old  canoe,  ready  to  cotne  on  board. 
The  sea  nm  so  lii;^di  tiiat  no  one  but  i\'ter  Awosh(Md<s  was 
alil.'to  reach  tiie  vessel;  and  when,  after  much  danger  and 
trouble,  he  was  taken  in,  a  strong  head  wind  prevented 
the  itrosceution  of  the  voyage,  and  all  returned  to  New- 
jiDft,  milking  the  circuit  (;f'  Rhode  Islancb 

Church,  after  this  delay— the  arrival  of  the  army  at 
I'dcassct  being  shortly  expected — was  unwilling  to  leave 
till'  Island,  and  accordingly  sent  Peter  back  to  Sogkonate, 
with  directions  to  take  the  selected  number  of  his  coni- 
[iiiiiions,  and  proceed  across  the  country  to  Plymouth,  with 
letter;-  for  the  governor. 

The  Plymouth  foi'ces  reached  Pocassct,  under  command 
of  Miijcr  Bradford,  and,  having  been  joined  by  Church, 
maivhed  to  Punkatcse.  Awoshoidcs  and  most  of  her  war- 
rior.>,  liaving  been  notified  to  attend,  came  to  this  jilace, 
iiiitl  proU'ered  their  services;  but,  to  their  great  grief  and 
(lisjtppointment,  were  ordered  to  repair  to  Sandwich,  on 
the  coast  to  the  eastward,  and  await  further  directions 
frora  tho  government  at  Plvmouth.  Church  advised  them 
to  comply  quietly,  and  promised  to  join  them,  himself 
within  a  week,  with  a  commission  to  employ  them,  if  he 
could  obtain  it. 

During  tlic  ensuing  week,  according  to  the  opinion  of 
potnc,  an  opportunity  was  lost  of  surprising  and  destroy- 
iri2  nearly  the  whole  of  Philip's  remaining  force,  who  had 
gone  to  Wepoiset,  in  search  of  clams;  provisions  being 
verv  scarce  with  them. 

Captain  Church,  with  only  one  companion,  rode  from 
liohoboth  to  Plymouth,  starting  at  sunset,  and  reaching 
the  town  early  in  the  morning.  lie  there  saw  the  gov 
ernor,  who  had  received  the  messengers  from  Sogkonate 
with  favor,  and  who  readily  promised  him  the  desin.'d 
cuimnission,  and  ratified  his  agreement  with  Awoshonks. 


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INUIAN   UACKS  OK  AMKlilCA. 


Not  rmdiiig  ihu  Indijiiis  at  Saiulwicli,  Captain  Cliurrh, 
with  11  I'uw  coiiipaiiiuiis,  jirocecded  along  tlio  cuast,  ainl 
filially  canic  u|'ou  the  wliulo  Iriln.',  scattcroil  (nci'  the  !cvi;l 
saiid-bcach,  cugagi-d  in  various  o(jcui)atioii.s  and  divrr- 
siuns— "A  vast  company  oi'  Indians,  ol'all  a,L;vs  and  scxr.s, 
Koiiiu  (jii  horsc-baclv  running  racrs,  soiiu;  at  lotJt-bali,  .souiu 
catching  eels  and  llat-iish,  sonic  claiiiiuing,  cVc." 

lie  was  received  by  Asvoshonks  and  her  cliii  Is,  and 
royally  entertained.  Wheu  night  came  on,  an  imiin'iisu 
heap  ol'  dry  pine  brunches  and  other  I'uel  was  set  on  liiv. 
aiul  all  the  Indians,  gathering  round  it,  commeneed  ihosi; 
dunces  and  ceremonies  deemed  by  them  so  essential  in 
cementing  u  leugue,  or  in  entering  upon  any  iinpuilant 
adventure. 

A  stout  cliie'C  would  stop  -within  the  circle,  ai'iiied  with 
speur  und  hutchet,  uiid  appear  to  light  the  lire,  with  ev»Ty 
gesture  und  expression  of  energy  and  fury,  iiaining  suc- 
cessively the  several  hostile  tribes;  "and,  at  the  naiuiu^'er 
every  particular  tribe  of  Indians,  be  would  draw  out  ainl 
fight  a  new  lire-brand,  und  utlinishing  his  light  with  earh 
purticular  fire-brand,  woukl  bow  to  him  und  thunk  him."' 
Jle  would  then  retire,  and  another  would  repeat  the  same 
operation,  "  with  more  fury,  if  possible,  than  the  lirst." 

Awoshonks  und  the  chiefs  told  Church  that  hereby  they 
were  his  sworn  soldiers,  und,  one  and  all,  at  his  ser\ice. 
lie  therefore  selected  a  number  of  them,  and  took  tluMii  to 
Plymouth  the  next  day,  where  he  was  regularly  conunis- 
sioned,  by  Governor  Winslow,  to  raise  volunteers,  Imtli 
English  und  Indiun;  to  fight  the  enemy  at  his  discretiuii; 
and  to  muke  treuty  und  composition  with  any,  as  he  shouhl 
see  reason,  "provided  they  be  not  murderous  rogues,  or 
such  as  have  been  principul  actors  in  ^iiose  villanies."  'J'he 
commission  was  given,  under  the  public  seal,  the  2ith  day 
of  July,  1676. 

Being  now  furnished  with  a  sufficient  force,  and  being 


f '^^  li  Hit  — '= 


NKW  KNC.LANI)   INDIANri. 


263 


nt  liberty  to  cirry  out  liis  own  itl:iiis,  Clmrch  commenced 
a  vigorous  uiid  oH'octivo  eaiiiiniigii.  Sproivdiug  through 
the  liirest  with  liis  men,  kicking  hiiiisolf  {'ontinnally  in- 
loi'iiioil  hy  scouts  ol'  the  jMisitioii  ;iii<l  n\iml)or  of  th(^  cue- 
iiiv,  ami  I'ollowiiig  up  iiis  ailvautagvs  with  unwearied 
ciii'iL'v,  lie  reduix'd  iiis  <)|i[)i)neiits  to  tiie  great(\'<t  .straits. 
The  army,  under  Hradf'ord,  remaiiK-d  at  'I'aunton  atid  vi- 
cinity, cutting  oir  ]'hili[i's  return  I'roni  the  eastwani,  while 
Cliiux'h  and  iiis  eoips  scoured  the  woods,  surjirising  and 
killing,  or  taking  captive  largx'  uuinKers  of  hostile  Indians. 

On  one  occasion,  he  fell  in  with  Jiittlo  Kvcs,  tin;  Sog- 
koiKite  who  attempted  to  niak'e  way  with  him  at  the  lii'st 
iiitt'r\ieu'  with  Awoshonks,  and  who  had  separated  from 
flic  rest  of  the  triho  with  a  few  companions.  His  Iiiill;iii 
allies  urged  Church  to  take  this  opportunity  for  revenging 
liiiiisclf,  hut  ho  refused,  and  showed  the  unfricuidly  chief 
f|iiart(!r  and  protection. 

Philip  and  his  ]»arty,  chiefly  Marragansetts,  anxious  to 
cU'rct  a  retreat  to  the  Xarragans(;tt  country,  came  to  the 
liaiiks  of  'J'aunton  river,  and  felled  a  large  tree  over  the 
sti'cani  for  the  purpose  of  crossing.  At  this  spot,  Chui'ch 
with  his  company  and  a  detacliment  from  Bridgewater, 
attacked  him,  on  tlu;  1st  of  August.  Aa  the  Knglish 
secretly  approached  the  fiillen  tree,  a  single  wari'ior  was 
seen  seated  upon  the  stumj)  across  the  river,  and  as  ('hurch 
was  taking  aim  at  him,  one  of  his  Indian  followers  called 
to  him  not  to  fire,  thinkini*-  that  it  was  a  man  of  their  own 

7  Cj 

iKirty.  At  this  moment  the  Indian  sprang  from  the  stump, 
and  ell'eeted  liis  escape  down  the  river-bank,  but  as  he 
turned  his  face,  he  was  distinctly  recognized  to  be  Philip 
himself. 

The  whole  body  of  the  enemy  then  scattered  and  fled 
through  the  woods,  but  succeeded  in  effecting  a  passage 
iif  the  river  at  a  ford,  some  distance  beyond;  hotly  ])Ui-- 
siied  by  the  ]*]ngli.sli.     Many  women   and   children  were 

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204 


INDFAN   UACKS  OK  AMERICA. 


c'ii|itiir('(l;  jiiiioii;,'  tin- rest,  riiilijj's  wife,  Wootoiickiumske 
mid  lii.s  s(Mi,  u  linl  only  iniio  yeur.s  (;f  age.     Tlie  So;,^^,,!,. 
iiti's,   Collowiiig  closely  ii|i(>ii  the  fugitives,  killed  scvenij 
and  made  tliiitccii  jirisoiici'S. 

As  I  lie  lli^i^dit  was  eoiitiiiiu'd,  flu;  women  and  cliildivn 
licciinic  wearied,  and,  luiing  unable  to  keep  pace  with  iht.. 
eonipany,  fMI  into  the  hands  of  the  j)ursuers.  'I'hcv  wciv 
ordei'ed  to  follow  tlu;  trail,  and  were  assured  that,  if 
submissive!  and  olHHlicnt,  they  should  he  the  more  lii\ di- 
al) ly  treated. 

I'liili]),  and  his  bund,  being  suddenly  surjuiscil,  wliil  ■ 
liiey  were  busily  engaged  in  j)reparing  breakliist,  (led  intn 
aswamp,  leaving  "their  kettles  boiling,  and  meat  imistinu' 
upon  their  wooden  spits."  llei(!  they  wei'c;  henmieij  in, 
and,  after  some  hard  lighting,  no  less  than  oik;  huinhvil 
and  seventy-three,  including  those  who  had  followed  tin; 
})arty,  as  directed,  were  taken  prisoners  or  kiile(l.  A 
large  division  of  these  were  .so  surprised  and  j)aine-.-«tnHk 
by  the  number  and  determination  of  the  pursuers,  that 
they  ".stood  still  and  let  the  Knglish  come  and  take  tli.' 
gun.s  out  of  their  hands,  when  they  were  both  eluiiged  and 
cocked."    Philij),  and  .some  of  his  {jrincipal  chiefs,  eseap 

'J'he  j)rist)iiers,  having  been  well  supplied  witii 
were  eonlined  in  the  pound,  at  l>ridgewater,  and  passrd 
tli(!  night  in  meriiment,  expressing  little  de.s})ondeiiev  or 
aj)prehension.  They  rej)orted  Philip's  condition  and  liaiin' 
of  nund  as  being  nuserable  in  the  extreme.  His  wif'  and 
son  made  pri.soners;  his  allies  overj)owered,  or  tieaeht  r- 
ous;  reverses  coming  thick  upon  him;  and  his  H^ruc 
dwindling  to  a  handful  of  warrior.s,  nothing  but  destruetieu 
seemed  to  await  him. 

On  the  Uth  of  August,  "Wcetarnorc,  queen  of  Poeas.set, 
and  widow  of  Alexander,  Philip's  eldest  brother,  who 
throughout  the  war  had  been  a  most  valuable  and  faitlilul 
coadjutor  to  her  brotherdndaw,  perished  in  attempting  to 


ICil 


NKW  KN(iLAM>    INDIANS. 


2C5 


ericajio  over  tlu;  IV'hticut  river,  iiiti)  Ikt  own  (••>uiitiT,  upon 
a  rati.  She  IkkI  Iktii  surjiriscil,  with  twenty  six  ct'  lier 
sulijeets,  who  W'Te  all  taken  jiiisonns.  The  (lead  liody 
ut' the  poor  ([Uei'ii  was  IihukI  .s/'//7.:  'inhul^  mm'  t/f-  riri  r 
liniil.)  where  she  had  pri)bal)ly  eroui'hed  half  drowin'd,  and 
(lied  I'l'oiii  e.\p(jsiiro  and  (amine.  Her  head  was  iMiioll'liy 
ilio.-e  who  disc(jvcrcd  her,  and  lixcd  upon  a  poK-  at  'rami- 
tmi,  where  it  wu.s  reeogui/ed  liy  S(»nu!  of  hri'  lo\ini; 
Mihjec'ts  kept  there  in  cajitivity.  'I'luii'  ]>\\\>i  of  unre- 
straiaahle  gi'iel' at  tlu!  sight,  is  (diaraeteri/rd  hy  Matln;r,  as 
"a  iiii'st  lajrrid  anil  diaholieal  lamenlalion."' 

(  iiuivh  I'etnrufd  to  J'lynioiith,  whei'e  he  rcccivi'd  the 
tiiaiik.-  and  gratulations  of  tlu;  authoiitirs,  hut  was  allowed 
little  rest,  as  some  ol'  the  eniMny,  under  the  great  saehein 
Ttitosoh,  were  lurking  around  iJartnioutli,  and  his  aid  was 
rci[iiired  to  dislodge  them,  'i'lie  expedition  was  siU'ecssCul, 
hut  Toloson,  with  an  old  .^quaw  and  his  little  son,  escaped. 
The  S(puiw  afterwards  eame  to  Sandwich,  and  repoited  the 
rhid's  death,  saying  that,  "relleeting  uj)on  the  miserahle 
cKiKlition  he  had  brought  himself' into,  his  heart  heeauie  a 
.■>t<^uo  within  him,  and  he  died."  She  said  that  she  liad 
eeveied  his  hody  with  a  lew  leaves  and  brush. 

Worn  out  by  hard  serviee,  hard  fare,  and  exjiosure, 
Captain  Church  now  .sought  to  recruit  his  strength  by  rest; 
but,  being  urged  by  the  government  to  pursue  IMiilip  to 
the  death,  and  receiviiig  ijronii.-^csof  satislaction  Ibr  ibrmer 
neglect,  he  marched  to  l*oeas.sct  with  a  company  of  volun- 
teers, and  thence  ero.ssed  over  to  iihode  Island. 

lie  there  visited  his  wife,  whom  he  had  left  at  a  Mrs. 
Saiidford's,  and  who  fainted  witl.  suri)rise  and  joy  at 
iiieeliiig  him  alive;  but  hardly  had  the  ilrst  greetings 
been  exchanged,  when  tidings  came  po.st  that  J'hilip  was 
to  be  found  at  his  old  quarters  in  Mount  Hope  neck.  'J'he 
horses  upon  wdiicli  Church  and  his  companions  had  just 
arrived  otood  at  the  door;  and,  telling  Mi-s.  Chui-ch  that 


t 

"     !'■ 

« 


:'i    I 


1 

p 

% 

i 

!  >: 


'  I 


?:!1  'i 


if 


4  I' 


!"■• 


IK? 


i 


266 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


"slio  must  content  licrsclf  witli  .1  short  visit  wlien  siici, 
gaiiu;  was  iiIkm*!,"  tlicy  nil  iiiouiitcd  and  s])iirr('il  (ill" 

'J'ljey  learned  fVoin  tlio  deserter  who  liad  hroii-jht  tlie 
intelligence,  that  riiilip  was  encani|HMl  upon  a  spot  olMrv 
hind  in  a  swamp  hard  by  the  mount;  and  tJliunh  licupr 
well  aeipiainted  witli  the  locality,  lost  no  time  in  takii:' 
advanta-j;e  ol'  his  information,  lie  crossed  the  ferrv  witli 
his  men,  and  a]iproaelied  tlio  sjtot  during  the  ni'jlit. 
Having  distributed  a  ])oi'ti(jn  ol'the  force  in  sueli  a  ni.iiincr 
as  to  command  all  the  places  where  the  enemv  would  l,i; 
likely  to  attempt  escape,  another  detachment,  under  Cqitiiiii 
Golding,  ])roceeded  to  "beat  up  PliiHp's  he;  d-(ju;ntr;s;" 
with  directions  to  mal:e  all  the  m^ise  ])ossil)]e,  while  pur- 
siiing  the  fugitives,  tliat  they  might  be  known  bv  thosr 
who  lay  in  aml)ush. 

^J'he  Indians,  stai'th.'d  l)y  the  first  fire,  rushed  into  tl.c 
swamp,  witli  I'hilii)  at  their  head.  Half  clothed,  ainl 
flinging  his  "petunk"  and  powderdioni  behind  him,  thr 
doomed  chief  eanie^  at  full  speed,  fully  within  range  of  tin' 
guns  of  an  Knglishman  ;:nd  an  Indian,  who  lay  coiiecakd 
atone  of  the  points  of  ambuscade. 

The  white  man's  gun  snjijiped,  but  the  fire  of  his  cnm- 
panion  was  fatal.  IMiilip  fell  ujion  his  face  in  the  mire, 
shot  through  the  h(>art.  This  event  took  ])laee  earlv  in 
in  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  12tli  of  August,  1(17(5. 

Thus  the  main  objectof  the  campaign  was  accomjilishnl; 
but  most  of  the  hostile  party  managed  to  esca})e.  AiimiiH 
them  was  the  old  chief,  Annawon,  a  great  captain  mul.i 
Philip,  and  Massasoit,  liis  father.  IIo  "seemed  to  he  ;i 
great  surly  old  fellow,"  hallooing,  with  a  loud  voice, 
"lootash—Iootash!"  Peter,  Church's  man,  said  that  lie 
was  calling  on  his  men  to  fight  bravely,  and  hold  their 
ground. 

Several  of  Church's  Indians  dragged  the  body  of  poor 
Philip  out  of  the  mire,  "and  a  doleful,  great,  naked  beust 


rd 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


267 


he  looked."  By  the  direciioii  of  the  captain,  who  avernHl 
that,  hiiving  "eau.sod  iiumy  nn  Knghsliinaii's  Ixidy  to  be 
uiibiiried  and  to  rot  ahovc  ground,  not  one  of  liis  l)oncs 
-hould  he  buried,"  one  of  the  Indians  Ijcheaded  and  (|uar- 
UTcd  the  l)ody  of  the  faHcii  sachem,  as  was  the  custom 
towards  traitors.  Ilu;  (dd  I'xecutioiici',  who  was  ajiiiointcil 
to  tliis  office,  iu'st  made  a  sliort  sjicech,  which,  but  tliat  it 
w;is  rather  more  coarsely  expressed,  might  remind  one  of 
tlic  exultation  of  the  heroes  of  Homer  over  acomjucrcd  Ibe. 
][(j\vever  iar  removed  from  that  absurd  and  morbid 
seiisihility  which  perceives  greater  tokens  of  depi'avity  in 
;iii  indignity  ollei'cd  to  a  senseless  carcass  than  in  acts  of 
criieitv  ;md  injustice  towards  the  living,  we  do  not  caie  to 
iltil'iid  this  act  of  Church.  One  of  Philip's  hands,  whicdi 
liad  been  formt'rly  marred  by  the  bursting  of  a  })istol,  was 
uivi'U  to  Aldfi'man,  the  Indian  who  shot  him.  'Vim  cx- 
iiiitition  of  it  proved  a  soun;c  of  no  small  ])rolit.  I'hc'  head 
was  long  exposed  at  J'lymouth,  and  the  devout  thither 
r.xults  in  having,  with  his  own  hand,  disjilaccd  the  jaw 
from  the  scull  of  "that  blasphemous  leviathan." 


CIlAPTKll  VIII. 

PURSUIT  OF  AN'NAWOM   AM)  HIS   PAKTY DAItlN(;   PROCEDURE  OP 

CAl'TAIN  CHURCH K.\I)  OF  TIIK  WAR,  A.Nl)   FINAL  DISPOSAL 

OF  PRISONERS SUMMARY   OF  THE  COLONIAL   LOSSES. 

Aftkr  the  death  of  Phili]),  the  company  returned  to 
Plymouth,  and  received,  as  jiremiam  for  their  services, 
thirty  shillings  for  each  Indian  killed  or  taken. 

Toward  the  end  of  August,  Church  was  again  called 
from  riyniouth  to  go  in  })ursuit  of  Annawon,  who,  with 
die  feeble  remains  of  his  force,  was  scouring  the  countrv 


1    : 

,'t 

,i.    1 
;  '1   I 

ill" 


f 


'  ^'i    ■  i-'     ;    'fa".!"-' 


ifll 


ill 


t 


4',r' 


% 


II 


,r 


U 


51!  :. 


If   Wi 


.it^l^'-l 


lili^ 


if 


U 


ii  ^^1 


268 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMP^RICA. 


around  Hcliobotli  and  Swaiisej.  lie  acC'  rdingly  took  a 
few  faitliful  soldiers,  witli  his  brave  and  tried  licutonant 
Jabcz  J  lowland,  and  liastened  throii,.;h  tlic  woods  io  I'o 
casset.  He  intended  ])assing  the  Sabbath  on  I'hode  Ishm.]. 
but  lieariii,i!,'  that  Jn<lians  had  been  seen  crossini:-  iVnia 
I'rudcnee  island  to  Po])j)asc[uash  neek,  he  hastciu'd  ut 
oiiee  ill  ([uest  of  them.  i\s  they  were  passin^i:'  the  rivt-r 
in  eanoes,  so  licavy  a  gale  sprung  U})  that,  after  tlie  ciijita:!: 
and  fifteen  or  sixteen  Indians  were  over,  the  b<jats  cou'il 
no  longer  venture.  Without  waiting  for  their  I'liiulish 
eompanions,  this  little  Cf)nipany  niarehed  n^ind  tliroii'^li 
the  northern  ])art  of  the  present  town  of  I'l'istol,  aiiil 
sju'eading  aeross  the  narrow  pcjrtion  of  the  neck,  sent 
seonts  to  aseertain  the  position  of  the  enemy.  'I'lu'V  tlnre 
passed  "a  very  solitary,  hungry  night,"  having  no  pi'Mvi- 
sions.  Karly  in  the  morning,  Nathaniel,  an  Indian  efihe 
seouting  party,  appeared,  and  ttjld  how  he,  with  his  eoin- 
])anion,  had  taken  ten  ])risoners,  by  lying  eonecalcd,  aii'l 
attraeting  the  enemies'  attention  by  howling  like  a  \\''S. 
One  after  another,  they  would  run  to  see  what  eauscd  tiie 
noise,  and  Nathaniel,  "howling  lower  and  lower,  (uxw 
them  in  between  those  who  lay  in  wait."  They  afteruai'iH 
seeured  the  wives  and  ehildren  of  these  ea}jtives,  all  of 
whom  said  that  Annawon  never  "  roosted  twiee  in  ; 


a  iilaci 


but  eontinually  shifted  his  quarters.  Tliey  repn'S('iit''(l 
Annawon  as  the  bravest  and  most  subtle  of  all  Pliiliji"; 
warriors,  and  said  that  the  men  who  still  adhered  to  him 
were  valiant  and  resolute. 

An  old  Indian,  aceompanicd  by  a  young  squaw,  w(?re 
next  taken,  both  of  whom  had  come  direct  from  the  great 
chief's  encampment,  which  was  in  Squannaeoidc  swamp, 
m  the  south-easterly  ]nirt  of  Rehoboth.  The  ola  man,  in 
consideration  that  his  life  was  spared,  agreed  to  ]iiIot 
Church  to  the  s})ot,  but  begged  that  he  might  not  be  coin- 
pelled  "to  fight  against  Captain  Annawon,  his  old  frici;il." 


NKW  ENGLAND   INDIANS. 


269 


li  was  a  bold  act,  indeed,  on  the  j^art  of  Cliurcl),  u>  uhvIt 
take  tlic  capture  of  sudi  a  warrior,  witli  so  siiiiill  a  force; 
inr,  liuviiig  been  obliged  to  send  some  liack'  with  the 
iiii,--(iiiers,  only  half  a  dozen  Indians  now  aecompanii  il 
hiiu.  lie  was  not  a  man  to  let  slij)  an  oppurtimitv,  and 
starti'd  at  once  for  the  camj),  having  much  ado  to  kee}) 
;i;i(>'  with  the  hardy  old  Indian  who  led  the  way. 

Ainiawon's  ''camp  or  kennelling  ])lace,"  was  pitched 
in  a  recess  in  a  lerlge  of  })reci|)itous  rocks,  whi(jli  stood 
i.iiKjn  a  rising  ground  in  the  swamj),  and  the  only  way  to 
api'roach  it  unpcrccived  was  l)y  elandjering  down  the  ehlf. 
It  was  night  when  Church  ai'rived  there;  stopping  the 
guiil(3  with  his  hand,  he  crawled  to  the  edge  of  the  rock, 
ami  looked  down  upon  the  se(Mic  below.  Annawon's  hut 
(■(insisted  of  a  tree  felled  against  the  wall  of  I'oek,  with 
1  iich  bushes  piled  against  it.  h'ires  were  lit  without,  over 
whicli  meat  was  roasting  and  kettles  were  boiliim-  and  the 
\vA\i  revealed  several  companies  of  the  enemy.  Their 
arms  were  stacked  together,  and  covered  with  a  mat,  and 
in  close  })roximity  to  them  lay  old  Annawon  and  his  son. 
All  old  squaw  Avas  pounding  corn  in  a  moi'tar,  and,  as  the 
iinjso  of  her  blows  contimied,  Church,  preceded  bv  the 
pui'le  and  his  daughter,  and  1'o11ow(.mI  by  his  Indian  allies, 
jet  liiniself  down  by  the  bushes  and  twigs  which  grew  in 
tlie  crevices  of  the  rock.  AVith  his  hatchet  in  his  hand, 
lie  stop{)cd  over  the  younger  ^vnnawon,  wIkj  drew  himself 
inti)  a  heaj)  with  his  blaidcet  over  his  head,  and  reached 
the  gims.  The  old  chief  sat  up,  crying  out  "  llowoh !"  l)ut, 
seeing  that  he  was  taken,  lay  down  again  in  silence.  The 
rest  of  the  company  made  no  resistance,  supposing  that 
tlie  Knglish  were  upon  them  in  force.  Church's  Indians, 
going  among  them,  enlarged  upon  his  benevolence  and 
;  kindnes'^,  and  advised  them  to  submit  quietly,  which  they 
(lid,  delivering  up  all  tlieir  arms. 

Annawon  ordered  hia  women  to  get  supper  for  Captain 


'L.. 


-    <i 

i 

.■ij- 

d,M 


...St 


TA 


■'Mm 


r'i>ii.;; 


mm 


;|l«,   •:]» 


'  =1  I- 


m  ^''' ''  '■ 


,'^ 


:S  >: 


III 


!    r 


(-    ' 


Hi'    '  -I 


I  hi 


270 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Clini'cli  and  Lis  men,  and  they  all  supped  toc^etlicr  in  har- 
inoiiy.  Tlic  Captain,  wearied  out  by  lony  watcliin"-  umi 
labor,  now  tried  to  get  a  little  sleep,  but  was  unablr  tu 
eompose  liiuiself.  Looking  round  he  saw  the  whuh  |);iiiv, 
friends  and  foes,  sleeping  sound!}',  with  the  exception  cf 
Annawon;  and  there  lay  the  two  rival  leadci's,  liKikiii^a! 
eaeh  otlier  for  near  an  hour. 

Annawon  then  got  up  and  retired  a  short  distance,  hum, 
as  he  did  not  inuiiediately  return,  Cbureh  suspet'ted  tliMt 
lie  might  have  seeured  a  gnu,  with  intent  todisjiateli  hi::!. 
and  therefore  erept  elose  to  young  Annawon,  as  soeuritv. 
The  old  man  soon  reappeared,  bringin^  with  him  Diiliji's 
regalia,  and,  kneeling  down  before  Chureh,  to  liis  lmv;;1 
surprise,  addressed  him  in  English:  "Great  eaplaiu,  vdi 
havekilleil  IMiilip  and  eonquered  his  country;  fir  I  Inhevr 
that  I  and  my  eompany  are  the  last  that  war  against.the  i-iim- 
lisli,  so  suppose  the  war  is  ended  by  3'our  means,  and  thit- 
fore  these  things  belong  to  you."  He  then  lianded  him 
two  broad  belts  elaborately  worked  in  wampum,  one  ef 
whieh  reached  from  the  shoulders  nearly  to  the  ground, 
"edged  with  red  hair,  from  the  Maliog's country ;''  tw(j  lutrus 
of  })owder,  and  a  red  cloth  blanket.  lie  said  that  Philip 
used  to  ornament  himself  with  these  upon  great  oecasioi,s, 

All  night  long  the  two  captains  continued  their  con- 
verse, and  Annawon  detailed  his  adventures,  and  ",:2avo 
an  account  of  what  mighty  success  he  had  formerly,  in 
wars  against  many  nations  of  Indians,  Avhen  he  served 
Asumequin  (Massasoit),  Philip's  father." 

'idle  next  day  the  party  proceeded  to  Taunton,  and 
Church,  with  Annawon  in  his  company,  went  to  Khode 
Island,  and  so  on  to  Plymouth.  There,  to  Iiis  great  sor- 
row, the  authorities  refused  to  spare  the  old  chief,  but  ]iut 
him  to  deatli.  At  the  same  time  they  executed  Tispaquiii, 
the  last  of  Philip's  great  sachems,  who  had  surrendered 
himself  upon  jiromise  of  mercy. 


NEW  ENGLAND  INDIANS. 


271 


The  war  was  now  at  an  end,  with  tlic  exception  of  a 
few  '•  linniiiig  excursions,"  afler  some  stragglers  of  Philip's 
men  who  yet  hirked  in  the  woods.  Such  of  the  })risoiiei\s, 
ni»\v  in  the  hands  of  the  Knglisli,  as  had  been  active  in 

:  hostihties,  were  put  to  death :  the  rest  Averc  sold  in  slaverv 
ill  the  colonies,  or  sent  to  toil  in  the  \\'est  Indies.  It  was 
iiiucli  discussed  whether  the  poor  hoy  "who  was  so  cnlpa- 
l»le  as  to  he  the  son  of  Philip,  should  die.     The  clergymen 

'  seemed  inclined  to  the  belief  tliat  such  should  be  his  iate; 

I  Increase  Mather  cited  the  case  of  Iladad,  saying  that, 
"liad  not  others  fled  away  with   him,  I  am  aj)t  to  think 

!  that  David  would  have  taken  a  course  that  Iladad  shouhl 
never  have  proved  a  scourge  to  the  next  generation."     He 

I  was  filially  sent  a  slave  to  l^ermuda. 

Baylies  thus  sums  up  the  disasters  of  the  eventful  })eric)d 
of  Philip's  hostilities:  "In  this  war,  which  lasted  but  lii- 
tle  more  th.an  a  year  and  a  half,  six  hundred  Kiighshiuen 
were  killed.  Thirteen  towns  in  ]\[assaehusetts,  Plymouth, 
andlihode  Island,  were  destroyed,  and  many  others  greatly 
injured.  Almost  every  family  had  lost  a  relative.  Si.x 
hundred  dwellingdiouses  had  been  burned.  A  vast  amount, 
in  goods  and  cattle,  had  been  destroyed,  and  a  vast  debt 
created.  But  the  result  of  the  contest  was  de<Msive;  the 
enemy  was  extinct;  the  fertile  wilderness  was  oj)eiied,  and 

I  the  rapid  extension  of  settlements  evinced  the  growing 
prosperity  of  New  England." 


i  i: ' 


)                 1 

;  ! 

i 

('■■ 

!^ 

■ii 

1' 
■ 

"A-  j;,: 

li 

iiiv 


272  INDIAN  RACES   OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

TIIK     KASTKK.N'     INIUANS TIIKIR     ritlKXDLY     DISPOSITION — SKIZI.KK 

OF  THOSr.  I.Ml'l.irATKn  IN   l'IIII,Il''s    CONSPIRACY — FliKNClI  AND 

INDIAN   WAR    OK    1(5"^!) — ATTATK    ON    COCHKCO MUIiIii:i: 

OK     MAJOR    AVALDRON — WAR     (>K     17()">J — ClIURCIl's 

LAST     CAMPAK;n — WAR     OK     17"Jv! — CAPTAIN 

JOHN   LOVEWELL. 

The  services  of  Captain  Benjamin  Chureli,  in  llic  enrlv 
Indian  e;irnpaign.s,  did  lujt  end  with  tlic  dc^atli  <■('  Pliilij 
and  the  redueticni  of  the  liostile  triLcs  united  l)y  th;it  diii  f 
in  enmity  against  tlie  eolunists.  In  the  war  wliicli  aCti-i- 
wards  broke  out  with  the  Indians  of  New  Jiaiii] 
and  ^Faine,  tlie  old  s(;ldier  was  again  called  u[)on  to  t; 
tlic  field. 

Our  aeeounls  of  the  early  history  of  these  Eastern  trilns 
are  not  very  voluminous  or  eoiuieeted.  Some  dosciijiiin;, 
is  given,  in  Ca})tain  John  Smith's  narrative,  of  the  g^v 
eminent  and  division  of  the  nations  and  tribes  on  \.\\v  cnu.^t: 
and,  in  subsequent  times,  tales  of  noted  sagamores  and  wai'- 
riors,  with  detached  incidents  of  adventure,  are  not  want- 
ing in  interest. 

'J'he  first  English  settlers  in  Maine  and  New  Ilanipsliiro 
1k>  \  little  to  complain  of  in  the  treatment  they  rciTivctl 
from  the  aboriginal  inhabitants:  according  to  llubhai'il, 
'•Ever  since  the  first  settling  of  any  English  j^lanlalin'i 
in  those  j)arts  about  Kennebeck,  for  the  s])a(;e  of  al'"iit 
fifty  years,  the  Indians  always  carried  it  fair,  and  ln'M 
good  correspondence  with  the  English,  until  the  news  caiai' 
of  ]'hili[)'s  rebellion  and  rising  against  the  inhabitants  of 
riimouth  colony  in  the  end  of  June,  1G75;  after  wliiiii 
time  it  was  aj)prehended  by  such  as  had  the  cxaniinatio!! 
of  the  Indians  about  Kennebeck,  that  there  was  a  ucnor;;! 
surmise   amongst  them  that  they  should  be  required  to 


'•■v^. 


lAlTAlN  IJENJAill.N  tlilucU. 


:  i 

n.. 

• 

w 

H 


f* 


I* 


f  .1 


assi.st  tlic  J 
thcv  wen.'  ; 

\VllCl. 

of  them  ; 
,  seiziii'o  (»1  1 
[  feelings  wii 
conti'iviiucc 
the  first  so 
Ilaiiipsliirc, 

\Vfl(J  (IccOJ 
the  J>l-Ct(MlC( 

oxaiiiiiicil,  ; 
nt.'L'tcd  with 
wcro  snit  t 

^riuiy  scc'i 

l»y  Iiistoriun 

caiiipui'nis  ( 

I   J'l'ciicli  ;iii(l 

;   with  Philip'f 

tlie  buniiiiL'-, 

,   Saco.      UikL 

j  the  conflictii 

Baron  of  Si 

about  a  war 

involved.     \ 

the  eastern  T 

depredations 

At  Cochcc 

ity,  with  a  c( 

pying  five  fo 

party  of  Indi 

to  strike  a  si; 

toreven.ffe  tli 

(iron.    ThcE 

18 


Mi 


NEW  K.VGLANI)    INDIANS. 


1>73 


assist  tlic  said  Philip,  uUliou;^1i  tli(;y  would  not  own  that 
tli(>v  were  at  .•ill  on^o'igcd  in  the  (iu;ii  re'l." 

When  IMilIip's  forces  were  destroyed  or  disjiersed,  iii:my 
of  tlieni  took  )'efu;^M' at  the  i'^ast,  and  the  search  for  and 
sei'/iire  of  ihi'-e  served  to  arouse  and  keep  aliv(!  li"Mi!e 
fL'elin.tiS  whicli  ndi.dit  otherwise  have  slumbered.  V>\  thi; 
eoiitrivauee  of  Major  Waldn^n,  a  noted  eluiractcr  anioii;^ 
tjic  first  settlers  iit  Coeheeo  (afterwards  Dovei-),  in  N'fW 
Ilarnpsliire,  S(jnie  four  hundred  Indians,  oC  vari(;\is  tiihes, 
were  deeoycd  into  the  power  of  the  eolonial  troops  hy 
the  pret(Mieo  of  a  sharn-fiLdit  exhibition.  They  wei'c  tlieii 
oxaiiiiMcil,  and  all  who  were  adjudgeil  to  have  b(,'en  coti- 
nected  with  the  war,  to  the  number  of  over  two  hundred, 
were  scut  to  Ikjston,  where  ei^•ht  or  ten  of  them  were 
liaii;,'e(l,  and  the  rest  were  sold  as  slaves. 

^^;l.ny  seenes  of  dej^redation  and  bloodshed  are  desei'ibi d 
ly  historians  of  those  early  times  ])revious  to  the  reji;ular 
cainpai;,Mis  of  l()8i>,  and  the  3'ears  ensuin.L'",  a,i,^ainst  the 
Fri'iieh  and  Indians.  Durim^  the  war  lA'  i075-0,  eonneeie(l 
with  Philip's  eonsj)iraey,  the  most  ini])ortant  aflhiis  were 
t!iL!  hurnin,!:,  by  the  Indians,  (^f  the  towns  of  Casro  and 
Sac).  Under  the  administration  of  Sir  Mdnnnid  Andioss, 
the  eonflieting  claims  to  territor}^  in  Maine,  between  the 
Baron  of  St.  Castinc  and  Emrlish  propi'ietoi's,  bioui^ht 
about  a  war  in  which  the  neighboring  Indian  tribes  were 
involved.  With  their  usual  success,  the  French  excited 
the  eastern  Indians  to  espouse  their  cause,  and  a  series  of 
depredations  upon  the  English  colonists  ensued. 

At  Coeheeo  (Dover),  Major  Waldron  was  still  in  author- 
ity, with  a  considerable  force  under  his  command,  occu- 
pying five  fortified  buildings.  In  the  summer  of  liJSO,  a 
party  of  Indians  planned  an  attack  upon  this  j)Ost,  as  well 
to  strike  a  signal  blow  in  behalf  of  their  wdiite  allies,  a.s 
to  revenge  the  former  wrong  done  to  their  friends  by  Wal- 
dron. The  English  considered  themselves  perfectly  secure, 
18 


\iM 


■i  'h 


k 


W'-t^ 


^^■^l 


!<i' 


?f 


i''^''* 


u.«i 


^\^^:^': 


II  iiii|.f  4 


p'm 


i 


27-1 


INIJIAN   HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


and  k(>i)t  no  watcli — a  cirtiiuristaiicc  wliicli  liad  brtii  i,l). 
siTvcd  \)y  the  enemy.  On  the  27lh  o(  .June,  two  squaws 
ohtaiiuid  leave  to  sU;e{)  in  oaeh  of  the  gaii'isoncMl  hMUs.'s, 
])urin,s^  thi;  ni^^ht  they  rose  (luietly,  unbarml  ilw.  doors, 
and,  hy  appointcid  signals,  announeeil  to  tht;  wari'iors  luik- 
in<^'  without  that  the  time  was  })ropitioiis  l<)i'  un  attack. 

The  Knj^dish  were  eomplefely  ovei'powered,  lil'ly-two 
were  killed  or  carried  away  eai)tive;  among  the  I'oniicr 
was  Major  Waldron.  The  old  Avarrior  (he  was  (1^:111  v 
years  of  age)  delended  himself  with  astonishing  stn'iii;tli 
and  courage,  but  was  linally  struck  down  from  lifhiml. 
IJruised  and  mangled,  he  was  j)laced  in  a  chair  ujinn  a 
table,  and  the  savages,  gatliering  round,  glutted  their  Idtr^- 
cherished  vengeance  by  cutting  and  torturing  the  h(l|ili>., 
ca})tivc.  He  v-'as  in  bad  odor  with  the  Indians  foi'  lia\  Ihl', 
as  they  alledgcd,  dt^frauded  them  in  foi'mcr  trading  tiaii- 
actions.  It  was  reported  among  them  that  he  iisiij  \n 
"count  hi.s  fist  iis  weighing  a  jjoniid,  also  that  his  accouhts 
were  Lot  crossed  out  accortling  to  agreement."  Placed  ;;> 
above  mentioned,  upon  a  table,  some  of  them  "in  tiU':;S 
gashed  his  naked  breast,  saying,  'I  cross  out  in}'  ac'iiiiii'.' 
Then  cutting  a  joint  from  his  finger,  would  say,  '\\;!i 
your  fist  weigh  a  pound  now?'" — {Dri ike's  (diltnu  ij 
Cliurcli^s  Indian  Wars.)  They  continued  these  criicltirs 
until  he  fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  when  they  dispat(jli(d 
him.  It  is  said,  by  the  above  author,  that  one  of  tlic 
.=;rpiaws,  to  whom  was  assigned  the  duty  of  betraying  Wal- 
(Iron's  garrison,  felt  some  compunction  at  the  act  of  trcacli- 
cry,  and  endeavored,  inefTectually,  to  warn  the  comniand- 
ant  by  crooning  the  following  verse: 

"Oil,  Mi.jor  Waldo, 
Von  (rri;at  .siiguiiiore, 
()  wliut  will  you  do, 
Iiidliins  at  your  door!" 

lu  September  of  this  year  (1089)  Captain  (now  styled 


NKW   HNdLANT)  INDIAN'S. 


27.") 


)>[!ij()r)  Cliiircli  WHS  commissioned  by  the  autlioritios  of  tlio 
riiitctl  Colonics  to  prosecute  tlie  war  in  Maine,  and  he 
sailcil  accordingly  with  his  forces  for  Casco  IJav.  II«'  liml 
uit'ii  liiin  two  hundred  and  fifty  vohmteers,  Kn;,dish  ami 
friciiiUy  Indians,  and  two  compatiies  from  Massat'husi'tts. 
His  arrival  was  seasonable,  as  a  lar<,fe  {'arty  of  Indians 
ami  French  was  ascertained  to  bo  in  the  vicinity,  inteml- 
iiig  to  destroy  the  place.  Some  smart  skirmishing  took 
)iliice  uj)on  the  succeeding  day,  but  the  em.'my  finally 
drew  oil". 

When  afterwards  ordered  liomc  with  liis  troops,  Cliureh 
liostirred  himself  to  bring  about  some  action  on  the  j)art 
of  the  government  for  the  more  eiTectual  pnMection  of  tin; 
unfortunate  inhabitants  of  Casco  (the  country  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  present  town  of  Portland),  but  in  vain;  and  in 
the  ensuing  spring  the  whole  district  was  ravaged  by  the 
oneniy.  The  I'lnglish  settlers  at  the  East,  after  the  event, 
no  longer  dared  to  remain  exposed  to  attacks  of  the  sav- 
ages, and,  deserting  their  homes,  collected  at  the  fortified 
post  at  Wells,  in  the  south  of  ^[aine. 

Church's  second  eastern  expedition,  in  September,  IGOi), 
was  against  tlie  Indian  forts  on  the  Androscoggin.  With 
little  resistance  he  drove  off  the  occupants,  released  several 
English  captives,  and  took  prisoners  several  members  of 
the  families  of  the  noted  Sachems  Warombo  and  Kanka- 
inagus.  A  number  of  Indian  pri.soners  were  brutally  mur- 
dered by  the  successful  party;  but  two  old  S(|uaws  were 
left  to  deliver  a  message  to  their  own  people  that  Captain 
Church  had  been  there,  and  with  him  many  Indians  for- 
merly adherents  of  King  Philip;  and  to  report  further,  as 
a  warning,  what  great  success  he  had  met  with  in  the  war 
against  the  great  sachem.  Word  was  also  left  that  if  the 
fugitives  "had  a  mind  to  see  their  wives  and  children,  they 
phould  come  to  Wells'  garrison."  With  respect  to  the  mas- 
sacre of  prisoners  on  this  occasion,  we  are  left  to  infer  that 


%i 


1  ^ 


if  te 


'  I 


'  \ 


)h 


ft' 


««" 


ir 


fit  tr  'I 


270 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


a  portion  of  tlK^rn,  .*t  loaat,  consist(^"l  of  u'omfn  an/l rhihirrn 
Tin;  old  narnitivo  liorc  .im  olstnvhorc  is  ratlicr  Mind,  iind 
deficient  in  detail,  but  if  the  facts  wero  as  above  si|n-i.f(.st(,|, 
the  whole  history  of  these  Indian  wars  does  not  jircsfiit 
a  more  rcvoltinj^  instance  of  c(^l(M)loodod  barbarity.  Tli;it 
the  act  was  done  by  Churcli's  orders,  or  that  it  was  cniiii- 
tenancnd  by  hiui,  S(!Cins  utterly  incredible  when  coiniiiin  i] 
with  his  usual  course  towanls  prisoners.  Of  oik;  man, 
who  was  captuHMl  in  the  takinj^  of  Warorid)o's  fiirt,  it  i- 
said:  "TIk;  soldiers  being  very  rude,  woulil  hardly  spaiv 
the  Indian's  life  while  in  cxatnination;"  and  it  is  poysilili' 
that  they  might  have  committed  the  wanton  buteliorv 
above  mentioned  without  their  commander's  concurreniv, 
We  would  not,  however,  endeavor  to  screen  the  guilt v; 
and  if  Church  is  to  be  held  responsible  for  the  inunLr. 
it  certainly  must  leave  a  black  and  indelible  stain  vijiuu 
his  character. 

From  the  })lundcrcd  fort  Church  proceeded  to  Casc<\ 
wh(  3  he  engaged  the  enemy,  and  beat  them  off,  but  in-t 
without  the  los.s  of  about  thirty  of  his  own  men  in  killfil 
and  wounded. 

In  August,  1092,  Church  was  figain  commissioned  ly 
Sir  William  Phipps  to  undertake  an  exj)cdition  ngaiii-^t 
the  Indians  at  Penobscot;  and,  although  he  failed  to  sur- 
prise the  enemy,  who  escaped  in  their  canoes,  ho  dostroyo'l 
a  quantity  of  their  provision,  and  brought  away  a  consiLl- 
erable  amount  of  plunder. 

A  force,  sent  into  Maine,  in  1693,  under  Major  Con vcr.-i, 
was  oj)posed  by  none  of  the  natives,  and,  within  a  slioit 
time  aflcr,  these  miserable  ])eople  were  glad  to  concludt;  a 
treaty  of  peace  with  the  English  at  Pemmaquid,  where  a 
stroncr  fort  had  been  erected  in  1690.  At  this  negotiation 
the  hostile  tribes  delivered  hostages  as  a  security  that  they 
would  cease  depredations  and  renounce  their  allegiance  to 
the  French.      Many  of  them  were,  notwithstanding,  in- 


NICVV   KNOI.ANI)   INDIANS. 


277 


ducc'J  to  join  the  inviision  under  M.  do  VillkTc,  in  tho 
following  year. 

Ill  this  canipiiign,  tlic  first  object  wjih  the  deslriiefioii  oC 
tlio  .settlement  on  Oyster  river,  near  Dover,  New  ll;iiii]i- 
Miire,  where  twelve  lioust.'S  hiul  liccn  giirrisoned  ami  |»uL 
ill  a  state  of  (h-fene*;.  Five  of  these  were  forecil,  ;iinl 
iioarly  one  hinnlre<l  juTSons  were  killed  or  taken  j)risi>iiers; 
the  other  strongholds  luiide  ii  sueeessfiil  (h-fenee,  hut  lil'teen 
iiiiproti'eted  houses  were  burnech  Nothing  of  sjiei-ial 
interest  oee'urred  in  connection  with  the  I'lastern  Imliaiis 
lioiii  this  time  until  lO'.K).  During  the  suninier  i>l'  that 
year,  some  blood  was  shed  by  the  .savages  at  I'oi'tsiiiniith 
;i!iil  Dover;  but  the  most  important  oeeurreiiei;  uf  tlu; 
Musoii  was  the  recbiction  of  the  strong  fort  at  l\'iuma<inid 
I'V  the  enemy.  Cliureh  was  also  engagi;d  in  another  east- 
mi  cami>aigii  in  the  months  of  August  and  Seiitember, 
liut  owing  to  orilers  received  I'rom  the  ecjlonial  authorities, 
In' was  impc'ded  in  tlie  pro.secutioii  of  his  plans,  and  iioth- 
iiiir  ol'  special  moment  wius  eirected. 

In  January,  D)UO,  the  war  with  the  French  being  at  an 
cimI,  the  Jmhaiis  of  Afaine  and  New  Hampshire  entered 
into  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  English  colonies — aeknowl- 
rtl;iing,  by  their  })rincipal  .sachems,  allegiance  to  the  King 
of  JMigland. 

When  war  was  agaiu  dechared,  in  May,  1702,  the  old 
(liiru'ulties  with  the  Tn(bans  wci'e  s})eedily  renewed,  (jlov- 
erner  Dudley,  of  Massachusetts,  endeavored  to  [nxserve 
]H'ac(!  with  these  tribes,  and  concluded  a  iicgoliatiiju  with 
many  (A'  their  chiefs,  at  Casco,  in  June  of  the  following 
year.  This  appears  to  have  been  a  mere  blind  on  the  j)art 
of  the  savages,  then,  a.s  ever,  favorable  to  the  French;  for 
only  a  few  weeks  subsequent  to  the  treaty,  a  simultaneous 
attack  was  made  upon  the  eastern  English  setth-ments. 
Every  thing  fell  belbre  the  enemy;  houses  wei'c  burned, 
l»roperty  of  every  kind  was  destroyed  or  plundered,  and 


"H.  .!li 


i  r. 


*k 


■:JK' 


I 


t'«'  •  t 


t>   • 


.'  .ill*''  ■  ;■ 


Ni 


il: 


278 


INDIAN   1;Ai'KS  (>K  AMKllICA. 


one  linii(];'((l   ;iii(l   fhii'ty  of  Un;   iiiii;il/it:iiits  woi't;  slain  or 
(•apliirc'l. 

'I'lic  iicws  of  tlic  tci'riblc  Ciiliiiiiitii'S   ;itt(Mi(l;iiit,  on  t'lc 
(Ic-ti'iH'l  ion  of  Dccrluild,  in  the  ^vint('l•  of  I  7<),'M,  coiuhliMNl 


With   w  1 1 ; 


lie 


had  hiiiiscir  \vitii(;ssr(l  ol'  In  lian 


•  •rni'ltics, 


incilcd  Major  ('hnrcli  to  volunteer  his  fnilhi'i-  S'lvi'^- 
a,L'"ainst,  the  ciieniv.  "Ilisblood  boilcil  within  him.  ai'il;- 
in;^'  sneli  iinimlses  on  liis  mind  that  he  I'nv^ui  all  luriiirp 
treatments,  wliieh  were  eiioM,L;li  to  hinder  anv  nijn.  r.^y. 
eially  tlie  saiil  -Nfajor  Ciiureli,  (Vom  doini^  aiiv  Ciiil'i;'!' s^t- 
vice."  Ilis  ofTers  wei'c  .udadly  yeee[)ted,  and  a  \ii  v  cnn- 
sidei'alile  ['n\-v(\  was  ])nt  tinder  liis  command,  with  ;;  l"""] 
snpjily  of  \vhah,'d)()ats,  the  iiceessity  for  whieh  he,  had  s^'^n 
in  Idrmer  eain])aiLfns  alon^i,^  tlic  irrcj^idar  and  iinlciitnl 
Coast  of  .Maiiu\ 

This  was  the  last  military  diitv  und(.'rtakeii  1)V  tip'  cM 
soldier,  and  it  was  })crfornied  with  his  usual  skill  aipl 
cncrijy.  The  Tndian  towns  of  Miuas  and  Chignecto  wnv 
taken,  and  the  encniy  was  successfully  cn^L^awd  at  otlirp 
points,  ^riu!  most  note(l  event  of  the  (^xjtedition  was  i!;.' 
ni<i;lit  attack  at  Passamaciuoddy.  In  the  midst  of  the  cnji- 
fusion  incitlcnt  to  the  marshallin,!:^  of  disordei'K' and  ninl:-^- 
cij. lined  troops,  an  order  was  issued  by  Church  fir  ini' 
destructicjii  of  a  house,  and  of  its  inhabitants,  wlio  \uA 
refused  to  surrender.  In  liis  own  words:  "I  hastilv  l)i'l 
them  pull  it  dowai,  and  knock  them  on  the  ImuJ,  \w\vv  ask- 
in<r  whether  they  were  French  or  Indians— they  l)einL'-  .I'l 
enemies  alike  to  nu;."  In  a  note  to  this  transaction,  Mr. 
Drake  says:  "It  does  not  appear,  from  a  lon,L(  carcci-  i  \ 
useful  services,  that  Church  was  ever  rash  or  cruel.  I'Vuia 
tiie  extraordinary  situation  of  his  men,  rendereil  donhly 
critical  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  alnio.-t  cer- 
tain intelligence  that  a  great  army  of  the  enemy  wen,'  at 
hand,  is  thought  to  be  sufficient  excuse  for  the  mcasiip." 
The  major,  in  his  own  account,  adds:  "I  most  ccilainly 


M;\\'   KN'MLAM)    INDIANS. 


279 


kriow  that  I  was  in  an  c.\''('C(liiiL^  great  passion,  l)ut  not 
will;  those  ]nn\r  niis(!i'al)K!  (Micinies;  for  I  to(^]';  no  notices 
ei' ;i  hair  a  tjo/.i'ii  of  the  eiieniv,  when  at  tlu^  same  time  I 
oxiMcteil  lo  lie  emi'aifeil  with  some  hninlrcils  of  them. 
*  *  In  this  heat  of  aetion,  every  woi'd  that  I  then  Sjiol<(,' 
I  ciiiiiiot  'X^w  an  aeeonnt  ol";  ami  I  jii'esumt!  it  is  impossi- 
ble" (Quarter  was  shown  to  all  win;  came  out  ami  suh- 
iiiittc'l,  ujion  i'e<pii.<ilion. 

i'Voni  the  close  of  the  war,  an'l  tho  conehision  of  peace 
with  I'Vaiiee,  in  ]7\-'>,  until  1722,  then;  was  little  to  ,li.-,tu'-l. 
tiK'i';i.-teni  iVontiei",  fu'-ther  than  some  eontentions  l)etw<'eii 
tiKM'olonists  ami  Iii'lhuis  aiMsiii'^  out  of  ilispnteil  titles  to 
l.iinh  A  l''reneliman  iiamc'l  Ralle,  of  the  <)r(hT  of  .Jesuits, 
iv:<iileil,  in  1721,  amon'j;  the  Inilians  at  Xori'idp^ewot;]':,  and 
Imiii^;  suspected  ]»y  the  .Kn<j;lish  of  cxertin,<f  :i  pernicious 
iiilliieiii  •■  over  his  Hock,  u  j'artj  was  sent,  hy  the  Massa- 
eimsetts  eovernmciit,  to  seize  upon  Ids  person.  jialle 
escaped,  and  the  undertaking  only  hastcmed  hostiliti(\s. 

Imhan  depredations  soon  conuncneed,  arul  war  was 
rciruhirh  de(dared  1)V  Massaeliusctts.  For  threes  veais  the 
fruiiiier  settlerncMits  suO'ered  severely.  The  JMiglish  suc- 
ceo'k'd  in  breaking  up  tho  j)rincipal  head-(]uart(>rs  of  the 
ciiciiiv,  vi/, :  at  the  Indian  eastU;  some  distanc-o  up  the 
I'ciioliscot,  an(l  at  the  village  of  Norridgewoek. 

At  the  taking  of  the  latter  place,  ]iall(\  with  from  (Ifty 
t'l  a  hundred  of  his  Indian  comrades,  ))erislicd. 

One  (if  th(^  most  noted  among  tho  Knglish  campa' 
iluring  this  war,  was  the  famous  Captain  John  Lovev    li,  ■  1 
iMuistahle.     His  adventures,  and  particularly  the  (ii?    n  at 
Vigwacket,  on  the  Saco,  in  which  he  lost  his  life,  ,,  r 
widely  celebrated  in  the  rude  verse  of  tho  times. 

This  engagement  was  the  last  important  event  of  the 
War;  the  Indians  were  greatly  reduced  in  nund)crs,  and, 
wlicii  no  longt-r  stimulated  and  supportecl  hv  tin;  French, 
\v.  re  ineapahle  of  any  sy.stcmatic  warlike  operations. 


"•^      -i^ 


'•■',i  r 


i    >i 


.  *.*i 


:« ;'■:  S 


til 


'ii  ' 


yiM; 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GKNERAL    OUTLINES    OF     CIIAI!  ACTKIl,     ETC.  —  IM IM!  KSSIONS    OK    THE 

INHABITANTS  OF   NEW  ENGLAND  RESi'ECTING   THE    II!0(i(()|S — 

GARANGULA  :    HIS  SPEECH  TO   M.   I)E   LA   HAHKE. 

Non'p:  of  the  Indian  nations  of  Jic  United  States  liave 
oeciipied  a  more  important  j)lac(!  in  onr  national  liistuiv, 
than  tlic  renowned  confederacy  \vliich  forms  the  subject  of 
our  pn\'^ent  consideration. 

VariovLS  New  England  tribes  were  reduced  to  a  disirracefnl 
trilint(!  to  the  imperious  Moliags,  Mawhawks,  ^^()lKnvks  or 
Maquas;  the  great  nation  of  J\)\vhatan  stood  in  aweof'tln' 
warlike  Afassawomekcs;  and  those  associated  in  this  power- 
ful league  had  become  a  terror  to  all  against  whom  they  IkhI 
lifted  up  their  arms.  'J'hey  were  called  Iroquois  hy  tlie 
Fren(;h,  who  found  their  head-quarters  on  the  St.  J^au-- 
renec,  where  Montreal  now  stands,  at  the  beu'inninij;  of  the 
sev(^nte(Mith  century.  Their  native  appellation  was  A^ua- 
nuschioui  (variously  spelt  and  traiuslated),  and  they  wiie 
dividei]  ori;_':iiKilly  into  five  tribes.  These  were  the  Mn- 
h.'i.wks,  the  Oneidas,  the  (^ayugas,  the  Onoiulagas  and  tlio 
Seneeas.  The  Tusearoras,  from  the  south,  were  afterwards 
unit(>d  with  tluun,  and  formed  the  sixth  nnti(Ui.  Kacli 
trib(^  w;is  sub-divided  into  classes,  distingiiished  by  tlic 
"toleuL^,"  or  symbols  of  the  tortoise,  the  bear,  the  wolf, 
the  beaver,  the  deer,  the  falcon,  the  plover,  and  tlic  crano. 


;M,    (I 


I*,' 

r- 

■A 

lie 

lU'- 

:a- 

■I'O 

In- 
llO 

nls 
t'lie 


lu;. 


'I'M! 


'J^:  4 


W: 


YilOi^lUlU  CHIEF. 


^'f'-  \ 


i    i: 


:  :iil 


lit  !'«' 


I'T 


e 


■  !   '14 


lift! 


N 


m> 


/  •'« 


Some  vciy 
ifioatioii. 
IxHwiicii  in 
whicli  o])ci' 
iicctioii.  ]' 
manlier,  ain 
]i!ivilegcs  a 
liiijiie. 

The  first 

the  except  1 

tiic  Ailii'dii 

known   l)v 

lieiii,L:"  of  a  1 

the  Ad  iron' 

to  the  sout 

1110,4  nuinei 

lliM'eest  and 

tlie  estiniati 

New   I'higla 

'iookin,  in  1 

lirst  of  llic  t 

iiitereounsc. 

"These  ^ 

fiir  sevei'al  ^ 

•liaiis,  as  tilt 

tnilh,  they  • 

the  Indians 

iiuiaber  tliai 

ill  the  w  00(1 

find  eornfieli 

in  forts."      [ 

hawk's  or  ^f; 

annei],  that 

iH'idge,   in   1 

fivjin  a  swan 


f\ 


THE  IROQL'OIS,  OU  rfJX  N.-.  I'loNS. 


2b[ 


Some  very  singular  usngcs  wore  conn'  'Mril  witl  tliis  elnss- 
illeutioii.  Among  other  things,  niarringe  was  prohibited 
betwrru  individuals  bearing  the  sa;ne  totem,  a  rrstrit.-tion 
\vliich  operated  strongly  to  extend  the  ties  of  family  eon- 
inrtiou.  ]']aeh  of  the  nations  was  divided  in  tlie  same 
muniier,  and  the  distinctive  badge  gave  its  beai'er  })eeuliar 
privileges  among  those  of  his  own  elass,  when  away  from 
linine. 

The  first  military  exploits  recorded  of  the  Tnxpiois,  with 
tlie  exception  oi'  native  ti'adilion,  ai'c  their  battles  with 
t'iie  Adiroiidaeks  in  which  they  were  cnf?-au;cd  when  (ii's; 
known  bv  the  French.  Becoming  .-killed  in  wai',  and 
liL'iug  of  a  bold,  adventurous  sjiirit,  a{t(T  finally  di'l'eating 
tlR'  Adirondaeks,  the  five  nations  extended  their  concpiests 
to  the  south  and  west.  The  ^fohawks,  although  not  tlio 
ino.^t  mmierous  })ortion  of  the  united  tribes,  furnished  the 
luM'ccst  and  most  redoubted  warriors.  1\)  u'ivean  id^a  of 
the  estimation  in  which  they  were  held  by  the  Indians  of 
Xow  l^iigland,  we  cite  the  following  account,  given  bv 
(ii^iikiii,  in  his  histoi'ical  collections,  wi'itten  in  I'lTI,  of  the 
lirst  of  tlie  tiibo  with  whom  the  eastern  colonists  held  an\- 
i!it('rcours(.\ 

"These  Maquas  arc  given  to  rapine  and  sjioil;  and  had 
fur  several  v(.'ars  been  in  hostilitv  with  our  nei^iTbour  In- 
•Ijaus,  as  the  Massachusetts,  Pautuekets,  kc,  kc.  And,  in 
truth,  tliey  were,  in  time  of  war,  so  great  a  terrour  to  all 
the  Indians  before  m^med,  tliough  oui-s  were  fir  wuiiv  in 
nmiiber  than  they,  tlie  a))]icarancc  of  f  )ur  or  five  Ma(pias 
111  the  woods,  would  frighten  them  fi-om  their  habitations 
and  cornfields,  and  reduce  mauy  of  them  to  fret  tou'ctluT 
in  foi'ts."  In  September,  of  1005,  "t^'cre  were  five  Maw- 
hawks  or  Maquas,  all  stout  and  lusty  young  men,  and  well 
armed,  that  came  into  one  John  Taylor's  house,  in  Cam- 
bridge, in  the  afternoon.  1'hey  Avcre  scr'u  to  come  out 
from  a  swamp  not  far  from  the  house."     Each  had  a  gun, 


i  O' 


;l     ! 


,11  .     i'^ 


.G.T        r'H, 


ilr'' 


m:'i^ 


I  ■«' 


2S2 


INDIAN'  RACES  OF  AMKUKJA. 


pistol,  liiilclitit,  and  lon^  kiiifi.',  ainl"llu'  ]'C()))1(>  of  t'.i- 
house  jJcn.vivcMl  that  tlifir  speech  was  diU'ririil  IVom  uiir 
iieiglilii^iir  Indians;  for  these  Maquas  Sj)eak  linllnw  ;ii.il 
throu.iiii  the  throat,  more  than  our  IiKhans;  and  ih.ir  lan- 
guage is  un(h,-r.'^tood  but  hy  very  few  of  our  )ieighh(.>iir 
Indians." 

It  seems  these  Moliawks  came  witli  the  intrnlinn  (,f 
being  apprehended,  that  tliey  might  see  tiie  ways  of  tiir 
English,  and  disjjlay,  at  the  same  time,  their  own  cdui;,:;!.' 
und  (hii'ing.  They  made  no  resistance  when  a  }»ai'iy  eamu 
to  seize  them,  but,  "at  their  being  imprisoned,  and  tlnjr 
being  hja(h'n  with  ii'ons,  they  did  not  appeal'  daunted  or 
dejected;  Imt  as  the  manner  of  those  Indians  is,  thev  san^' 
night  and  thiy,  wlieu  they  were  awake." 

On  being  bi-oUL;ht  l)(.;foi'e  the  court  at  Boston,  tlit-v  disa- 
vowed  any  evil  intent  towai'ds  the  Enghsh,  saying  that 
they  Avere  ecjme  to  avenge  themselves  upon  tlieir  JniJiaii 
enemies,  ''ddiey  wei'(!  tc^ld  tliat  it  Avas  inlnmianily.  hihI 
inore  like  wtdves  than  men  to  travel  and  wandiM-  sn  liir 
from  home  merely  to  kill  and  destroy  men,  women,  aihl 
children, — for  they  could  get  no  riches  of  oiu'  Indians, 
who  were  ver}''  poor, — and  to  do  this  in  a  secret  skuIl^iiiLr 
inannei',  lying  in  ambushment,  thickets,  aiul  swamj'S,  ly 
the  way  side,  and  so  killing  people  in  a  base  and  ignulilo 
manner,"  i.^e.- — "  To  these  things  they  made  answer  shortly : 
'It  was  their  trade  of  life:  they  were  b'-ed  up  ly  their 
ancestors  to  act  in  this  way  towards  their  enenues.'" 

All  the  Indians,  in  the  viciiuty  of  Boston,  were  eager 
that  these  captives  should  be  put  to  death,  but  the  eoint 
adopted  the  wiser  policy  of  sending  them  home  in  safety, 
with  presents  and  a  letter  to  their  sachem,  cautioning  iiiin 
against  allowing  any  of  his  people  to  make  war  against 
the  peaceable  Indians  under  the  protection  of  the  J'lnglisli. 

About  the  midille  of  the  sevinteenth  century,  tli"  Iro- 
quois, having  annihilated  the  powerful  nation  of  the  J'^iie.-, 


Til  •  IROQUOIS,  OU  SIX  NATIONS. 


283 


ocruploil  no  small  portion  of  that  vast  extent  of  coiiii 
trv,  Iviii,^"  lu'lweeu  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  great  lakes, 
uii.l  tin'  ( tliio  ami  Mississip[)i  rivers.  Tlicy  even  exlcinlc'l 
tiii'ir  iidstile  iiieiirsioiis  I'ar  south  and  west  ol'  tlicsf  ,vrt  at 
boniiilaries.  The  ])ivsent  state  ol'  New  Vork  ci'iilaincil 
tlicir  iniiieipal  estalilishiiients,  an<l  the  pi('tiiris4Mi'  river 
ainl  lakes  upon  whieh  they  dwelt,  still  pL'i'prtii;it"'  the 
luiiiH's  111' tlic  confederate  ti'ihes.  '^riicse  jieople  held  iutci'- 
c'Diirsr  with  the  whites,  of  a  very  dillerent  n;itiiri'  lidiii  that 
wiiicli  chainetcri/ed  tlie  reduetiou  and  liuiuili;iti<iii  of  the 
niilhrtiiiiate  natives  of  New  J^higland.  I'hicrd  ;i-;  they 
wi'iv  hctween  j><>werful  colonies  of  eontemliiig  l-'.uiMpciui 
ii;iti(;!is;  their  liivor  courted  upon  terms  of  e<[ualily  hy 
emissaries  from  either  p>arty;  the  authority  of  tlicir  chicis 
acknowledged,  and  the  solemnity  of  their  councils  rcspi'ctrd 
by  the  whites;  and  conscious  of  proud  superiority  uvvv 
all  surrounding  rmtivc  tribes,  it  might  well  he  expected 
that  they  would  entertain  the  highest  sense  of  tin  ir  jui- 
tieiuil  iiuportan(.:e. 

!No  American  tribe  ever  produced  such  an  array  of 
renowned  warri(;rs  and  orators  as  those  immoiiali/.cd  in 
the  history  of  the  Six  Nations.  Such  a  regiilar  systnn  of 
federal  government,  where  the  chief-men  of  "aeh  mcmbiu' 
iif  the  league  met  in  one  grand  council,  to  sustain  the 
interests  of  their  tribe,  or  enforce  the  views  of  their  con- 
stituents upon  subjects  of  state  policy,  in  matters  of  \ital 
importance  to  the  whole  nation,  elicited  all  the  jxiwrrs  of 
rude  native  elcnpienee.  Never  in  the  history  of  the  world 
lias  the  stirring  effect  of  accomj>lish.ed  oratory  been  moiv 
strikingly  display  'd  than  in  the  councils  of  these  unfnught 
sages.  The  speeches  of  Logan,  licd-Jacket,  and  others, 
foitiuiately  ])rescrve<l,  have  been  long  considered  master- 
pieces of  forciljle  declamation. 

The  adilrcss  of  (iaramrula,  or  Grand  Gueule,  to  the 
CanaJian  !:>:overnor,  M.  de  la  Barrc,  has  been  often  tr;in- 


I  I 


hJ 


■^i■ 


m  P 


•:;,! 


frS' 


I  FT    <|!!P     '    (f> 


^ 


i 

|LJyHHVH< 

1     i    1 

1    ; 

'  i   ' 

1   )|i  ! 

1' 

1 

"^ 


281 


INDIAN   RACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


scribed,  hut  is  so  strikingly  cluinictcristic  of  linli;in  style 
tiiat  \V(!  must  fiiul  })liiec  for  ut  least  a  jtortiou  of  it.  Aboui 
tlu!  year  l(isl,  the  l'"rcncli,  Leiug  at  [x'aco  willi  the  Iro 
(|uois,  tool;  till'  oppoi'tuuity  to  strcugtlicu  ami  mlaiL:''  llicir 
(loniiiiioiis  hy  foililying  luid  adLliug  to  their  j)(i,-.1s  iijiou  ilie 
•wcstcru  water's.  In  carrying  out  this  |iu!'jn)se,  iiii'\-  sent 
large'  sujiplics  of  ammunition  to  their  Indian  allies;  trihes 
hostile  to  the  coidedei'acy.  'riie  IrocjUois  took  proiimt 
measures  t(^  check  this  transfer  of  means  for  llieir  doU'we- 
tion,  and  the  Frcnc;h  governor,  angry  at  tlu;ii-  iiileilrrtMire, 
determined  to  hund)le  thein  by  a  decisive  canipaigii.  Ho 
collected  a  stnjng  f)rce  at  Cadara(jui  fort;  but,  a  .-ickiicss 
breaking  out  among  his  troops,  he  was  obliged  to  give 
over,  or  delay  the  ])ro.secuti()n  of  his  purpose.  He  there- 
fore i)rot;ured  a  meeting  with  the  old  Onondaga  saehem, 
and  other  Indian  deputies  at  Kaihoagc,  on  Lake  Ontario, 
for  a  conference.  He  conunonced  by  recaj)itulatiiig  liie 
injui'ies  received  from  the  l^'ivc  Nations,  by  the  jiluudir  ef 
French  tradei'S,  and,  after  demanding  ample  satislluiidn, 
thi'catened  the  destruction  of  the  nation,  if  his  claims  were 
disrcgai'ded.  lie  also  f dsely  asserted  that  the  govcMiior  of 
New  York  had  received  ordei's  from  the  Fam-lish  court  to 
assist  the  French  army  in  the  ])ro]x)sed  invasion. 

'fhe  (jld  chief,  undisturbed  by  these  menaces,  having 
taken  two  or  thive  turns  about  the  apartment,  stood  heiore 
tlu!  governor,  and,  after  a  courteous  and  formal  picile^mie, 
a(hb'essed  him  as  follows:  (we  cite  from  Drake's  Dmik  of 
the  North  Amei'ican  Indians)  "  Yonondio;  ycju  nnisl  have 
believed,  when  you  lelt  Qiicbcck,  that  the  sun  had  burnt  up 
all  the  forests  which  render  our  country  inaccessible  to  the 
French,  or  that  the  lakes  had  so  far  overflown  the  hanks, 
that  they  had  surrounded  our  castles,  and  that  it  wns  iia- 
possible  for  us  to  get  out  of  them.  Yes,  surely  you  niu.-^t 
have  dreamt  so,  and  the  curiosity  of  seeing  so  great  ;i 
wonder  has  brought  you  so  far.     Now  you  are  undeeeivol 


TllH  lUOQUOIS,  Oli  SIX  NATION 


>. 


28') 


iuncc  lliat  T,  fin<l  the  ■warriors  liorc  present,  au>  coino  to 
assiin  voii  lli;it  1.1)(3  Scuecas,  (\'i\Migns,  Oii()iHla_L:!i>,  OiM'iilas 
;uiil  Miilia\vk-s  arc  yet  alive.  I  tliaiik  you  in  llnir  name, 
f(ir  liriii,L;in,ii;  baek  into  tlieir  country  tlii>  calinnct  uiiidi 
yonv  pi'cilcce.-^sor  received  from  tlieir  hands,  ll  was  happy 
fur  VI lU  that  you  left  under  ground  that  niurderin,f;  hatchet 
tJKit  has  In'cn  so  often  dyed  in  the  blood  of  the  l''rench. 

"Ihai',  ^'onondicr,  1  do  not  slccji;  1  have  niy  eyes 
jpen;  and  the  sun  whifh  enlightens  nu^,  disci »\'(M's  to  nie 
a  great  captain,  at  the  head  of  a  c()ni})any  of  soMifis,  who 
sjx'uks  as  il'  he  were  dreaming,  lie  says  that  he  only  came 
to  the  lake  to  smoke  on  the  great  calumet  with  the  ( 'nuii- 
dagas.  I>ut  Grangula  says,  that  lie  sees  the  contrary; 
that  it  was  to  knock  them  on  the  head  if  sickness  had  not 
weakened  the  arras  of  the  French.  I  sec  Yonondio  raving 
in  a  canij)  of  sick  men,  whose  lives  the  Great  Spii'it  has 
saved  by  inflicting  this  sickness  u];)on  them. 

'•Hear,  Yonondio;  our  women  had  taken  their  clubs, 
our  children  and  old  men  had  carried  their  Ixiws  and 
arrows  int(j  the  heart  of  your  camj),  if  our  wai'rioi-s  had  not 
(iisarined  them,  and  kept  thcrn  back  when  your  messenger, 
Akouessan,  came  to  our  castles.  It  is  done,  and  I  have 
said  it. 

"Hear,  Yonondio;  we  plundered  none  of  the  l''reneh, 
but  those  that  carried  arms,  powder  and  ball  to  the 
Twightwies  and  Chictaghicks,  because  those  arms  miglit 
have  cost  us  our  lives.  Herein  we  follow  the  example  i)i' 
the  Jesuits,  who  break  all  the  kegs  of  rum  brought  to  our 
castles,  lest  the  drunken  Indians  should  knock  them  (-u 
the  head.  Our  warriors  have  not  beaver  enough  to  jiav 
fur  all  those  arms  that  they  have  taken,  and  our  old  men 
are  not  afraid  of  the  war.     This  belt  preserves  my  woids."' 

The  orator  continued  in  the  same  strain,  asserting  the 
indc])endence  and  freedt)m  of  Ids  nation,  and  giving  sub- 
stantial reasons  for  knocking  the  Twightwics  and  Chie- 


'■  *'.    * 


>^   ■:r' 


llff' 


i  ■'  if  f. 


llP    .^ 


:••  '■  J  iW  PIS 


.•,,;^*' 


Ir 


~7i 


280 


INDIAN    HACKS   OF  AMKIUr.V. 


tiij^liicks  oil  lli(j  lica'l.      He  (.'(MujlutU'd  ]>y  iiiii^LjiKiiiiiiiou.^lv  ' 

oll'ci'iii^^f  u  iircsciit  of  beuvor  U)  the  govcnior,  and  \,\-  in.  L 

viliii;i'iill  lliei'oiiijiaiiy  ji resent  to  an  entcrlaiimiciit.    Ai  ihc  ! 

ciid  of  each  iin|ii)itaut  section  of  a  sjicrcli,  it  was  usual  Inp  j' 

tlic  speaker  to  jii'oiVcr  a  Ix'lt  of  \vani[iiiiii,  to  lie  kept  ii,  iht-  ij 

|u'tiial  nuMnoiy  of  that  portion  of  his  oration,  a  eircinii^taiico  ij 
explanatory  of  tlieeoncliuUng  words  of  the  jihove  tpiotatiua. 


CHAPTER  II. 

inOQtroiS  TRADITIONS  RKLATIVK  TO  THKIK     KORMKi:    IIISTOKV — .\ 

liltlKF  ACCOUNT  OF  THK  DIF I' KUKNT  TKIIiK.S  r.i:i,()X(,IN(;  TO 

TIIIC  CONFF.11KKACY,   AND    THK    MAN.N'HK    OF  THKIII 

UNION liSClDKNTS  OFJiAKLY   WAKFAI.'E. 

Some  fanciful  tales  of  a  sn))ernatural  oiiuin  fnuii  the 
heart  of  a  mountain;  of  a  niiuration  to  thi',  casiri'ii  sea- 
board; and  of  a  snl)se<pient  return  to  the  i-oiintiy  o^I;lI^^•r^ 
and  rivers  where  they  finally  settled,  (^omprisr  most  tiia! 
is  noticeable  in  the  native  traditions  (jf  the  Six  Xati'inr;, 
prior  to  the  ;j;rand  confederation.  Many  of  the  aii''io:;t 
Ibrtifications,  the  remains  of  which  are  still  visible  tliroii-li 
the  state  of  New  York,  were  said  to  have  been  built  I'^r 
defence  while  the  tribes  wore  disjoined,  and  h(jstile  to  carii 
other. 

'i'hc  period  when  it  was  llnally  conclnded  to  adjust  all 
did" fences,  and  to  enter  into  a  league  of  mutual  prottrtinn 
and  defence,  is  altogether  uncertain.  'J'he  most  distin- 
guished authors  who  liave  given  the  subject  their  attontiua, 
in(;line  to  the  opinion  that  tiiis  took  })lace  within  less  than 
a  century  anterior  to  the  English  colonizaticjii  in  the  ea.-t. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  ])reeisc  time  of  the  new 
organization,  its  results  were,  as  we  have  seen,  brilliant  in 
the   extreme.     None    of  the   ruder   nations   of  l']astinii 


TJIi:  IROyUOlS,  on  six  NAllu.Nrf. 


287 


America  liavc  ever  clis{»l;iyo(l  sucli  a  (■((iiiliiiKitiun  ,.C  (|iiul. 
ities  that  (■(.inrnaiid  roj)i'v;t  as  those  of  whoin  \\i'  Mn-  ikjw 
Iroatili,':,'.  TIm'  liatill'i'  of  tin'  Ira^'Mf  was  tlrriilclK-  ilciiio- 
oniti";  arl)iti;ii'V  jioutt  was  lodLicd  in  tin*  li.itids  of  no 
ruItT,  nor  was  any  ti'ilit!  allowcvl  to  c.xiTi'isi'  tliscifti.inal 
jiutlinriiy  o\cr  anotlicr.  A  sini^iiliir  nniiniiuity  \\as  t;<'ii- 
t'l'ally  ohsiTVaMc  in  llicir  councils;  the  I'iuhts  ami  opinions 
nf  iiiiiioritics  wci'c  I'l  s]i('ct('(l ;  ami,  in  no  in-liinc',  were; 
iiicasuH's  adopted  which  met  the  sanction  of  l.nt  a  Ijai'c. 
liiajnrity. 

We  arc  told  tli.it  for  <i  long  pci'iod  Lcforc  the  rc\'olMtion, 
the  Iroeuois  chiefs  aiul  orators  hehl  up  their  own  confe<l- 
eration  as  an  example  for  the;  imitation  of  the  Mn-jlish 
colonics. 

I'iacli  1iiln'  had  one  ]trinci])al  sai'heni,  who,  with  an 
uiidcfnicd  n'iiid)er  of  a.-sociates,  took'  his  post  in  the  Lric;it 
c'Minicils  of  the  nation.  .A.  ^ui'a\'e  and  decent  ilelihci'nlion 
Was  seen  in  nil  their  ass-nihlie-,  fn'niinL'a  -trik'inu- conf  i';ist 
To  the  trickiM'y  ;iM(l  ehic;im^,  or  n<ii<\'  misride  too  often  vis- 
ible in  the  IcLMslative  halls  of  enli'jhtcncil  niofl^i-n  nations. 

Tli(>  AFoh.awks  were  esti'cmcd  the  oldc-^t  of  the  trihes, 
aii'l,  as  they  were  always  the  most  noted  in  w'D'Iike  trans- 
actiens,  one  of  their  sachems  usmillv  occn|Heil  ih,'  position 
(4' cunnnamlci'-in-chief  of  the  active  forces  of  the  united 
people.  The  setthMnont  of  this  trilx^  was  in  ea-tern  .\e\v 
"i  elk,  iipon  the  Mohawlc  I'iver,  a'ld  alone"  the  shores  of  tiie 
Hudson.  j-Vom  tln-ir  villages,  in  these  districts,  thcii'  war- 
pailics  ravaged  or  snl>duetl  the  feehlcr  nations  at  tin;  eai-t 
uial  south  and  their  favor  wasoidv  obtained  hv  ti'ilmte  and 
suhmission. 

Next  in  order,  proceeding  westward,  dwelt  the  Oneidas, 
whose  central  locality,  snp])lying  the  })laec  of  a  state 
capital  for  the  national  council,  wa.s  the  celebrated  r)ncid;i 
fitone.  This  mass  of  rock,  crowning  the  summit  of  a  hill 
which  commands  a,  beautiful  view  of  the  valhy,  is  still 


ifr 


li'-    r 


%:P 


■t 


I' 


t 

t 

t 

1                       'i' 

I 

.  1 

'  ifl^ 

r 

■^  r 

\ 

i       '     ' 


283 


l.VhlAV   I{A<'F,S  OF  AMKUIi'A. 


pointed  (>m1  ill  the  l.iwn  <.|'  Slnckl-iJil^i',  alxnit  Ill'U'cn  nr 
twf'iify  mill's  .'^ontIi-(';ist  «'!'  \\iv  Oneida  lake.  This  triln:  is 
siljipo^iMl  til  liaM'  I'll  n  till'  la-tor  till'  l''ivt'  N'atimis  In  liavi; 
.idi)|it(d  a  -I  jiai'iili'  iiaiin'  and  ;.';ii\('i'niiiriit,  in  early  ii'^c-i, 
\iv\i)V  Id  iIic  i^l'iind  nninii.  It  pn  nlnccd  lioM  and  (iiirr. 
jiri/in;.';  waiiinrs,  wlio  extended  tlieir  exiMirsions  llir  tu  tiir 
sonlli,  and  hy  sinne  dI"  whom  tlio  sixtii  tribe — the  Tu'im- 
roras     was  lli'st  (■oinliieted  noi-thwaid. 

The  <  >i,{)nda^!i:-!  (leeii)pied  tlie  eomitry  betwei'ii  tin: 
Oneida,  and  ('ayn^a  lal<es.  Aeroniini^-  to  sotiie  tliiMiii',-;. 
all  the  other  trilH\s  weiv  derived  IVoni  this,  and  eniaiii  it 
is  that  the  ei\'i!  I'nlrr  of  the  eonli'deraey  was  al\va\s  W'^m 
Oiionda'ja,  and  Ik  re  was  ever  tlie  ;^M'and  central  nniiiril. 
tire.  Monaichs  ol'  the  ti'ibr  were  said  to  have  reii:iie(ljii 
regular  sueeession,  I'roni  the  lii'st  piM'iod  oC  its  natioiiaiiiv 
to  the  time  of  I'Jiiopei.n  eoloiii/ation. 

in  near  proximity  to  each  other,  npon  tin;  beautiful 
lakes  which  still  bear  thcii'  name,  were  settled  tin-  (';ivii- 
gas  and  SentH'as.  'i'he  last-mentioned  tribe  ha.s  al\v;i\-: 
been  by  far  the  most  nnnnrous  oCthose  united  by  the  Ie;i'ii|c, 

'I'lu^  ^I'nscaroias  were,  by  their  own  account,  a  bnnirli 
from  the  ori^'inal  stock  of  the  Iroquois.  Miuratinii  li;>t 
to  tlic  west,  and  thriicc  south-easterly,  they  had  11  milly  .ti- 
tled upon  tlic  Xeii.-e  ai'il  Tai'  rivcu-s,  in  North  (';ire]iii;i. 
Surrounded  by  hostile  In''"ns,  who  proved  nnable  t()ri>iio 
with  tlu'  interlopei's,  thes  •  warlike  jieoplc  maintained  tlu'ir 
position  until  early  in  the  ei^litixuith  century.  They  tluMi 
endeavored  to  exteniunate  the  Knglish  colonists  of  tlnir 
vicinity.  On  an  ajipoiuted  day,  (Se))tend)er  12-,  1711,1 
divided  in  small  parties,  they  entered  the  villap's  of  tln^ 
wdiit(>s,  in  a  manner  intended  to  ward  off  susjiieien,  uihI 
attempted  a  ,trenei'a]  massacre.  Other  coast  Indians  were 
involved  in  the  conspiracy. 

One  hundred  and  thirty  wdiitcs  are  said  to  have  ]>crislioil 
on  that  day;  but  so  far  from  being  a  successl'ul  How  ' 


Ml 


m 


■f;;:; 


lit' 


il 


t 


m 

3 ' 

-  *    . 

I. 

■1i 

1-'  ■■ 

,^1 

m 

f  1 

:.#•"•  N 


I 


Ai»^       e 


I         I 


against  the 
a  s]iint  of 
the  tribe, 
lina  and  V 
in  M^arcli  f 
Tar  rivor, 

Coiond  ^r 

Boinfj  n( 
remained  i 
reiriilations 
to  New  Yo 
They  were 
the  Oneida 

^fany  str 

I  quois  and 

preserved. 

can  be  relic 

and  di.stort( 

famous  of  ■ 

Delawarcs,  1 

our  princip 

always  claii 

a  conquercc 

riors  in  all  i 

ho.stilities  tc 

pean  settlen 

The   die 

displays  of  i 

cisive  exhib 

traversed  w 

any  lar<2;e  I 

make  their  ^ 

country,  ant 

frequently  s 

19 


THE  IIIOQUOIS,  oil  SIX  NATIONS, 


2S0 


a'^ainst  the  advance  of  the  colonics,  tli(>  ])lot  on]y  amnsod 
a  spirit  of  retaliation,  wliicli  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of 
tlie  trihc.  With  the  assistance  of  forces  from  South  Caro- 
lina ami  Viririnia,  the  war  was  cari'ied  on  vigorously  ;  and 
in  ^h\rcll  of  17 IH,  the  main  fort  of  the  Tuscaroras,  uj'ou 
Tar  river,  to  which  they  had  retreated,  was  stor!ue(l  hy 
Colonel  Moore,  and  ciglit  hundred  prisoners  wen^  taken. 

Reinor  now  reduced  to  submission,  such  of  the  trihc  as 
remained  in  Carolina  yielded  to  the  requinuniMits  and 
reirulations  of  their  conquerors.  The  major  portion  nio\'('d 
t(i  Xe\v'  York,  and  formed  the  sixth  natiou  of  the  Iroipiois. 
They  were  establi.shcd  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
the  Oneidas. 

Many  strange  legends  of  early  warfire  between  the  Iro- 
quois and  distant  tribes  at  the  south  aiul  west  havi>  bc(ni 
preserved.  The  particulars  of  some  of  these  u.ai'ratives 
can  he  relied  upon,  while  others  are  cvi(l(>nt]y  cxa'j'.'v;-;itcd 
and  distorted  in  the  tradition.  At  the  south,  the  most 
famous  of  tlicir  opponents  were  the  gn\at  nation  of  tln^ 
Delawares,  the  Cherokces,  and  the  ancient  ti'ibc  fVoin  whom 
our  principal  chain  of  mountains  dtu-ive  a  name.  I'hcy 
always  claimed  that  the  Lenni  Lcnape,  or  Ikdawarcs,  were 
a  conquered  people,  and  assumed  the  haughtiness  (^f  suj>e- 
riurs  in  all  their  conferences  and  dealings  with  them.  No 
hostilities  took  place  between  the  two  nations  after  l^uro- 
pean  settlements  were  establi.shcd  in  the  country. 

The  Cherokee  war  gave  rather  an  op]^ortunity  fir 
displays  of  individual  energy  and  daring,  than  for  any  de- 
cisive exhibition  of  national  ])Ower.  1'hc  distance  to  be 
traversed  was  so  great,  that  it  Avas  never  undertaken  by 
any  large  body  of  warriors.  Small  parties,  who  ould 
make  their  way  unperccived  into  the  heart  of  the  enemi(\s' 
country,  and  retire  as  stealthily  with  their  trophies  of  scal)is, 
frequently  souglit  such  opportunity  of  jiroving  their  hardi- 
19 


mi 


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IM 


\MP 


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-':Ai  ^ij 


Ill 


290 


INDIAN   RACES  OF   AMERICA. 


1 


hood.  Ono  of  tlio  stories  told  of  these  early  exploit^,  i^ 
that  of  the  Seiicca  ^varri()r,  Iliadeoni.  lie  is  said  to  iiave 
started  alone  on  a  war-j)ath,  and  to  have  penetratL'd  the 
eountry  of  the  Cherukees,  su])ported  hy  sueh  ])rovisi(tii.s 
as  ho  eoiild  proeure  on  the  route,  and  a  little  pai'ehed  com 
which  he  carried  with  hini  when  he  set  out. 

Prowling  about  the  enemies'  villages,  he  managed  to 
dispatch  two  men  and  to  secure  their  scalps.  ]]c  llicii 
started  on  his  return,  and,  late  in  the  evening,  killed  ami 
scalped  a  young  man  whom  he  sow  coming  out  of  a  retired 
wigwam.  The  hut  appeared  to  be  em})ty,  and  he  could 
not  resist  the  tem])tation  to  enter  it  in  search  of  ])1uii(1i.t; 
especially  that  he  might  satisfy  his  craving  for  tobacco. 

While  there,  the  young  man's  mother  entered  the  \v;l^- 
wam,  and,  mistaking  Iliadeoni,  who  had  thrown  hiiiisclf 
u,)on  the  bed,  for  lier  son,  told  him  that  she  was  cointj:  awav 
for  tlie  night.  The  weary  Seneca,  seduced  by  the  ease  of 
a  long-unaccustomed  couch,  fell  into  a  sound  slumber,  from 
which  he  was  only  ;twakened  by  the  old  woman's  return  in 
the  morinng.  Taking  advantage  of  a  moment  when  shelunl 
left  the  hut,  to  slip  out,  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  north- 
ward, but  the  alarm  had  been  given,  and  it  was  only  by 
his  great  swiftness  that  he  escaped.  He  carried  the  throe 
scalps  in  triumph  to  his  own  people. 

Many  similar  legends  are  preserved  among  the  Tndinns, 
(>?  the  bravery  and  determined  spirit  of  revenge  in  which 
their  forefathers  trloried.  One  of  those  which  has  heeu 
given  with  the  greatest  particularity,  is  the  noted  expedi- 
tion of  the  Adirondack  chief  Piskaret  and  his  four  ai^.-o- 
ciates.  In  the  long  and  bloody  war  between  that  tribe  and 
the  Five  Nations,  the  latter  had  attained  the  asceiulaiKy 
by  a  series  of  victories,  and  the  five  warriors  alluded  to 
undertook  to  wipe  away  the  disgrace  of  defeat.  Proceed- 
ing up  the  Sorel,  in  a  single  canoe,  they  fell  in  witli  five 
boatdoads  of  the  enemy,  and  immediately  commenced  tlieir 


THE  IIJOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


291 


dcoth-song,  ns  if  escape  were  impossible  and  r'^sistanee 
useless.  As  the  Iroquois  approaclicd,  a  sudden  discharge 
from  the  Adirondack  muskets,  wliich  were  loaded  with 
small  chaiu-shot,  destroyed  the  frail  birch-bark  canoes  of 
tlieir  oj>poiients.  At  such  a  disadvantage,  the  Iroquois 
were  easily  knocked  on  the  head  as  they  lloundered  in  the 
water:  as  many  as  could  be  safely  secured  were  taken  alive, 
;!ii(l  tortured  to  death  at  their  captors'  leisure.  None  of 
Piskaret's  comT)ariions  would  accompany  him  upon  a  sec- 
ond war-path  which  he  ])roj)osed.  Tliey  had  acquired 
^lory  enough,  and  were  content  to  remain  in  the  enjoy- 
laeiit  of  a  Avell-earned  reputation,  without  undergoing 
further  hardships  and  danger.  The  bold  chief  therefore 
t^tarted  alone  for  the  heart  of  the  enemies'  countr3\  Using 
every  precaution  for  concealnent  and  decej)tion  known  to 
savages;  reversing  his  snow-shoes  to  mislead  a  pursuing 
]iarty  as  to  the  directioix  he  had  taken;  and  carefully 
choosing  a  route  where  it  would  be  difficult  to  track  him, 
lie  reached  one  of  the  Iroquois  towns.  Lying  closely  con- 
cealed during  the  day,  he  stole  into  the  wigwams  of  his 
enemies  on  two  successive  uights,  and  murdered  and 
scalped  the  sleeping  occupants.  The  third  night  a  guard 
was  stationed  at  every  lodge,  but  Piskarct,  stealthily  wait- 
ing an  opportunity,  knocked  one  of  the  watchmen  on  the 
liead,  and  fled,  hotly  pursued  by  a  party  from  the  village. 
His  speed  was  superior  to  that  of  any  Indian  of  his  time, 
and,  through  the  whole  day,  he  kept  just  sufliciently  in 
advance  of  his  pursuers  to  excite  them  to  their  utmost  ex- 
ertions. At  night,  they  lay  down  to  rest,  and,  wearied  with 
the  day's  toil,  the  whole  party  fell  asleep.  Piskaret,  j)er- 
ceiving  this,  silently  killed  and  scalped  every  man  of  them, 
and  carried  home  his  trophies  in  safety. 

The  Iroquois  were  generally  at  enmity  with  the  French, 
and,  within  a  few  years  after  the  futile  attempt  on  the  part 
of  De  la  ]>arre,  which  we  have  mentioned  in  a  preceding 


'1 '  '^' ' 

L,       '    ; 

\ 

l|:    - 

':.'    I 

.      ^    c 

I- 

i 


All. 


i 


202 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


clifiptcr,  scones  of  frightful  crueUj  and  Woodslicil  \.'ere 
enacted  on  both  sides.  The  confcth^racy  "was  then,  as  lone 
afterwards,  in  tlic  English  interest,  and  the  conquered 
llurons,  or  Wyandots,  whom  they  had  driven  fu'  west- 
ward, naturally  espoused  the  cause  of  the  French.  Having, 
however,  no  cause  for  ill-will  against  the  English,  except 
as  being  allies  of  their  foes,  the  llurons  were  not  uinviliing 
to  hold  intercourse  with  them  for  purposes  of  profiUiMi! 
traffic. 

A  strange  piece  of  duplicity,  conducted  with  true  In- 
dian cunning  by  Adario,  or  the  Rat,  sachem  of  the 
Dinonf^-^  lies,  a  Wyandot  tribe,  was  the  immediate  cause 
of  hostilities.  lie  left  his  head-quarters,  at  Michilimnck- 
inac,  with  one  liundred  warriors,  whether  with  intent  to 
make  an  incursion  u{)on  the  Iroquois,  or  merely  v^im  a 
sort  of  scout,  to  keep  liimself  informed  of  the  movonicnls 
of  the  contending  ])arties,  docs  not  appear.  lie  stopped  at 
the  French  fort  of  Cadaraqui,  and  learned  from  the  ollieer 
in  command  that  a  peace  was  about  to  be  concluded  between 
the  French  and  Iroquois;  deputies  for  which  purpose  were 
even  then  on  their  way  from  the  Six  Nations  to  Montreal. 

Nothing  could  be  more  distasteful  to  the  Hat  than  a 
treaty  of  this  character,  and  he  promptly  determined  to 
create  a  breach  between  the  negotiating  parties.  He 
therefore  lay  in  wait  for  the  ambassadors;  fell  upon  them; 
and  took  all  who  were  not  slain  in  the  conflict  prisoners. 
lie  pretended,  in  discourse  Avith  these  captives,  that  he 
was  acting  under  the  direction  of  the  French  authorities, 
and  when  the  astonished  deputies  made  answer  that  tluw 
Avere  bound  upon  ])caccful  embassy,  in  accordance  with  tlic 
invitation  of  the  French,  he  assumed  all  the  appearance  of 
astonishment  and  indignation  at  being  made  an  instrument 
for  so  treacherous  an  act.  Uc  immediately  set  his  })rison 
ers  at  liberty,  gave  them  arms,  and  advised  then?,  to  rouso 
up  their  people  to  avenge  such  foul  injustice. 


i! 


THE   IROQUOIS,  OU  SIX  NATIONS. 


203 


1)'/  tliis,  and  other  equally  artful  managcnionl,  Adario 
stirred  n[)  the  most  uucoutrollablc  rage  in  the  minds  of 
the  Iroquois  against  the  French,  and  a  long  and  disastrous 
war  followed.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  Canadian  governor 
attciiii»ted  to  explain  the  true  state  of  affairs.  The  Iroqui  >is 
ever  held  the  French  in  su.spicion,  and  would  not  be  dis- 
iibuscd.  Thev  invaded  Canada  with  an  irresistible  force. 
\Vc  have  no  record  of  any  period  in  the  history  of  Amer- 
ica iti  which  the  arms  of  the  natives  were  so  successful. 
Twelve  hundred  warriors  j)assed  over  to  the  island  upon 
which  Montreal  is  situated,  and  laid  waste  the  countr}'. 
Nearly  a  thousand  of  the  French  are  said  to  have  been 
slain  or  reserved  for  death  by  fire  and  torture.  Neither 
age  nor  sex  proved  any  protection,  and  the  scenes  described 
purjtass  in  horror  any  thing  before  or  since  experienced  by 
the  whites  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

The  war  continued  for  years,  and  the  name  of  Black 
Kattlc,  the  most  noted  war-chief  of  the  leagued  nations, 
heeainc  a  word  of  tej-ror.  lie  fought  successfully  against 
superior  numbers  f  the  French;  and  it  is  astonishing  to 
road  of  the  trifling  loss  which  his  bands  sustained  in 
many  of  their  most  desperate  engagements. 

The  great  orator  of  the  nation,  at  this  period,  was  named 
Dccanisora;  he  appeared  more  preeminently  than  any(;lher 
in  all  the  public  negotiations  of  the  tribe,  and  was  one  of 
the  deputies  who  were  duped  by  the  subtle  contrivance  of 
Adario. 

•  We  have  already  mentioned  that  the  Six  Nations  gen- 
erally favored  the  English,  and  that  between  them  and  the 
French,  feelings  of  the  bitterest  animosity  prevailed.  The 
recollection  of  the  scenes  which  attended  the  sack  of  Mon- 
treal must  constantly  have  strengthened  this  hatred  on  the 
part  of  the  Canadians,  while,  on  the  other  >  and,  the  In- 
dians could  point  to  acts  of  equal  atrocity  and  cold-blooded 
cruelty  exercised   towards   some  of  their  own    nund)ef 


p\^ 


I 


■I 


m 

m 

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yii  ,         I 


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i^i 


I.'' 


m 


291 


l.M'IAX    ItACKS  OF  A.MKKIL'A. 


en  r'apti\n'.      >rL'iiii\vliili>,  llic  I'inglisli  ;i;_;viits  wfrc 


when  tril-; 

assiduous  in  eultivatiiig  tlie  iVicmlslii])  of  ilu-  iiowti'iiI 
coiifbderacy  whose  sagacity  ami  good  I'aitli  in  (.•ouiiri!.  aijj 
whose  strength  in  l)attl(>,  liad  Ijcm.mi  sc;  t!'or(.)ngliIv  tcsti'il. 
In  the  vt'ai'  17KI  three  Iixxpiois  and  two  Molicgaii  sadu'iiis 
were  invited  to  visit  tlie  JMiglisli  eoui-t,  and  thcv  sailed 
for  Kiighmd  aeeonlingly.  'J'he  g?-eatest  interest  w;is  (ilt 
by  higli  and  hnv  in  their  appearanee  and  demeanor.  Thry 
wer(!  i-oyally  aecoutered,  and  })resented  to  (.^uren  Aaue 
with  courtly  ceremony.  The  authenticity  of  i!ie  set 
speeches  recorded  as  having  been  delivei'ed  b^-  tliem  on 
this  occasion,  has  been  shi-e'vdly  called  in  (piesiion.  Th" 
Spectator,  of  April  2Tth,  1711,  in  a  letter  wi'itten  to  shew- 
how  the  absurdities  of  EngH.sh  society  might  strike  a  for- 
eigner, gives  a  sort  of  diary  as  having  been  written  liv 
one  of  these  sachems.  The  article  opens  thus:  '"Wiieii 
the  four  Indian  Kings  were  in  this  country,  about  a  twelve- 
month ago,  I  often  mixed  with  the  rabble,  and  followeil 
them  a  whole  day  together,  being  wonderfully  struck  widi 
the  sight  of  every  thing  that  is  new  or  uncommon."  'fhe 
wi'iter  jxirtieularizes  "our  good  brother  J\  Tow  0.  Koaiu, 
king  of  the  Eivers,"  and  speaks  of  "the  kings  of  Granajah 
(Canajoharie)  and  of  the  Six  Nation.s."  This  latter  aj)}).!- 
lation,  as  observed  by  Mr.  Drake,  seems  to  call  in  question 
le  correctness  of  the  date  usually  assigned  to  the  event 
of  the  annexation  of  the  Tuscaroras. 


connnand 


TIIK    IltOyL'OlS,  OK  SIX   NATIONS.  295 

!  CHAPTKR   III. 

IMPOKTANT  CHARACTKIiS  AND  EVKNTS  OK    TMK   KUillTKKMII   CV.:^- 

I 

TUUV — BKA.NT — CUKSAp's  WAR,  AND  HISTORY  OF  I.OfiAN. 

I 

During  the  lou*,^  and  hlootly  wurs  hctwoiMi  llic  I'-ii^lisli 

aiiJ  Fi'ciicli,  tlic  Six  Nations  were  coiitimially  iiiNolvrd  in 

lidstilities,  occupying,  iis  they  did,  a  ])ositio!i  hclwccn  tlu^ 

I   cmitcndinir  ))ailii.'S.     To  describe  all  the  jiait  tin  y  1oi)I>:  in 

thi'se  ti'unsacticMis,  would  bo  to  give  a  history  of  the  war. 

■   This  is  far  fnjin  our  pui'})ose  to  nnderlaia',  and,  in   l)ring- 

,   iul:  down  events  to  the  period  of  the  American  ri;v(^lution, 

wo  shall  bestow  but  a  passing  notice  upi^n  some  of  the 

iiioi'i;  jirominent  incidents  in  wliich  the  li'oi[nois,  as  a  na- 

tjwii,   or    distinguished  individuals  of  their  tribe,  b(jre  a 

j   (.'uuspicuous  [)art. 

-loscph  Drant, — Thayendamigeo,  (as  he  usually  signed 
liiiiiscH',)  was  born  in  the  year  i7d-!.  .]thasi*een  ;i  ni;i1ter 
I  iiiiich  disputed  whether  he  was  a  half-breed,  or  of  pure 
j  Indian  descent,  and  also  whether  he  was  entitled  to  th(>  dig- 
I  iiity  of  a  chief  by  birth,  or  rose  to  it  by  his  own  (>.\ei"ti(Mis, 
j  llis  l)iographer.  Stone,  pronounces  him  t(^  have  been  the 
I  siiji  of  "Tehowaghwengaraghkwin,  a  full-bloodcMl  Mo- 
1  iiawk,  of  the  Wolf  tribe."  llis  j)arents  resided  in  the 
i  Valley  of  the  ^[ohawk,  but  were  ui)on  an  exjHMlition  to 
the  Ohio  river  when  Joseph  was  born,  "^'oung  Ib'ant  was 
'.  <'ai'ly  taken  under  the  patronage  of  Sir  William  Johnson, 
j  the  l^nglish  colonial  agent  for  Indian  allairs,  under  wh(»se 
j  (.•(iinniand  he  gained  his  lirst  knowledge  and  experience  of 
i  military  affairs.  I\iany  have  ex[)ressed  the  o{)inion  that 
I  brant  was  a  son  of  Sir  William;  but  we  can  account  lor 
their  nnitual  interest  in  each  other's  welfare  upon  otin'r 
irrounds  than  those  of  natural  affection.  Sir  William 
j  Johnson  was  idolized  by  the  whole  Mohawk  tiib(>  for  the 
I    favor  and  respect  wliich  he  had  shown  them,  and  I'or  hi^ 

i 


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200 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


[)riiic('ly  hosj)it;ilily.  Willi  the  family  uf  l>i';uit  lie  was 
more  closely  coiUK.'cted  by  a  iinicjii  with  Molly,  a  sister  of 
Joseph's,  who  lived  with  him  a-,  a  mistress  i.mtil  his  (Iraili. 

Til  th(^  year  17")'),  Brant,  thcMi  but  thii'teeu  years  oficc 
took  part  with  his  tribe  in  the  bailie  at  Lake  (iroruc, 
where  the  French,  uiuh'r  Baron  Dieskaru,  were  ilefrahil 
by  Sir  William  Johnson  an'l  his  forces.  Old  kiiiL^^  JKn. 
di'ick  oi-  Soi-en-ga-rah-ta,  the  noted  sachem  of  the  M.,- 
hawks,  perished  on  this  oe<iasion.  Ilendriek  was  iirailv 
st^venty  years  of  age,  but  years  had  not  diminishrd  l,;,s 
energy  or  courage.  Historians  vie  with  each  oihcr  in  I'l,.' 
praisi'S  which  they  be:'tow  upon  the  cloquenci",  bravciv, 
and  integril;  of  this  old  chief  lie  was  intimate  with  liis 
distinguished  English  commander,  ami  it  was  between 
them  that  the  amusing  c«>nl(;iilion  of  dreams  occurred,  tliat 
has  been  so  often  narrated.  With  the  Iroquois  a  dreain 
W!'.s  held  to  imjiort  verily,  insomuch  that  it  must  be  rnlil;- 
led  if  practicable.  Sir  William  (then  general)  Je)lnis()ii  lia^l 
dis[)layed  some  splendid  and  costly  uniforms  belore  tlic 
eyes  of  his  admiring  guests,  at  one  of  his  muniliecht  en- 
tei'tainments.  Old  Ilendriek  came  to  him  one  mninjii.f, 
shortly  afterwai'ds,  and  gravely  anirmed  that  he  had  dreaiii''.  1 
of  receiving  one  of  these  gorgeous  suits  as  a  present.  The 
general  instantly  presented  it  to  him,  but  took  the  (ijii»ir- 
tuiiity  to  retaliate  by  dreaming  of  the  cession  eif  tliree 
thousand  acres  of  valuable  land.  The  sachem  was  imt 
backward  in  carrying  out  his  own  ])rinciples,  but  at  t!ic 
same  time  avowed  his  intention  of  dreaming  no  mor^;  with 
one  whose  dreams  were  so  hard. 

To  return  to  young  Brant:  after  accompanying  his  palioii 
in  further  campaigns  of  the  bloody  French  war,  he  was 
placed  by  him,  together  with  several  other  young  Iiulians, 
at  an  institution  in  Lebau'  Connecticut,  called  the  Mo^r 
School,  after  its  founder,  l  eceive  an  English  eduealieii. 
This  was  about  the  year  17G0.     After  attaining  some  ];io- 


1|^ 


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JO*  r.  I'  H   n  i(  .1  .y  ■/'—  ■/  //  -1  y  /•'■  'V  li  -1  .V  F.  o  k  a 


TlIK  IKOQI'OIS,  Oil  SIX  NATIONS. 


2'.)  7 


(icicticy  in  iIh*  first  rudiments  of  literatim'.  \\iii''li  he  after- 
wapis  turiK'il  (i)  u;(n)(l  iiecoiuit,  Rraiit  left  tlieseminai'v.  uinl 
again  eii;rii'^e(l  in  a  life  of  active  wjirfan;.  lie  was  em- 
jiloyed  ill  the  war  with  I'oiitiae  aii'l  the  Ottawas,  Lul  th.; 
particulars  (jf  his  s  rx  ices  arc  not  handeil  «lown  to  us.  In 
17'I'»,  We,  fuid  liim  marricil  ami  sctilc(l  in  his  own  house 
at  the  ^folulW■k  valley.  Here  he  s})ent  a  'iMiet  aii'l  {xMce- 
lul  life  f  )r  .some  years,  actini^  as  interprctei'  in  ne,i.';otiations 
hc'twccn  his  people  and  the  whites,  and  h  ndin,!;;  his  aid  to 
tlic  elforts  of  tli(>  missionaries  who  wrw  i'i]f^\\;^vt\  in  the 
w.iik  of  teaehingand  (;onv(Ttiii,i,'  the  Indians.  'r!ios(!  who 
visited  his  hou.so,  .spoke  in  high  terms  of  his  kindness  and 
hospitality. 

Oil  the  death  of  Sir  AVilliam  Johnson,  in  Jnne,  1771,  his 
NUi-iudaw,  (.'olomd  Ciuy  J(jhnson,  held  his  olliee  as  Indian 
;iptit;  while  hi.s  son  and  heir,  Sirdohn  -hjhnson,  snei-eedi'd 
to  the  patermd  estate's.  Colonel  Guy  continued  the  fav<ir 
>lio\vn  l)y  his  father  to  Drant,  and  ap})ointed  him  his 
.Mvrctaiy. 

In  the  sprino-  of  this  same  year  a  war  eonunenccd,  the 
causes  of  which  have  been  variously  ]-epi-cs"nted,  hut 
ulidse  eonsequenecs  were  truly  disastrous.  We  allude  to 
the  scenes  in  v;eslern  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  so  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  names  of  Logan  and  Cresap. 
Colonel  Michael  Cresap  has  been,  for  many  years,  In-ld  up 
to  public  odium  by  nearly  every  historian,  as  tin;  eiMud  and 
wanton  murderer,  wdiosc  un.scruj)ulous  conduct  was  the 
sole  or  ])rincipal  cause  of  the  bloody  Indian  wai-  of  which 
we  are  now  to  .speak,  and  wdueli  is  still  .spoken  of  as 
Cresap's  war.  On  the  other  hand,  .some  recent  investiga- 
tions, made  public  by  Mr.  Brantz  ^dayer,  of  Ballimore,  in 
an  address  delivered  before  the  Maryland  Historical  So- 
ciety, seems  to  remove  no  little  portion  of  this  responsi- 
bility froni  the  shoulders  of  Cresap,  or  at  least  prove  that 
the  acts  with  which  liis  name  has  been  so  lonir  associated 


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208 


INDIAN'   UACEH  OF  AMHIMCA. 


Wen;  not  ilii-fctly  atti'il)iit;il)l(5  to  him.  He  U  sliowii  tr 
Imvo  lici'ii  ;i  piuilnit  iiiid  cautious  iiiiui,  who  (wcifiMl  lii.^ 
liiliiKMicc  to  restrain  the  reckless  adventurers  uiidrr  1,;. 
cornnianil  IVom  wanton  ontra.ires  upon  the  Inihans.  \\',. 
shall  not  atteiiijit  to  deeidc  upon  the  (picstioii  as  to  Ikhv 
liir  he  was  Manieahle,  hut  <^ive,  in  lew  words,  tlie  eirciai,. 
stances  wliieh  lM'ou;^lit  ahout  hostilities. 

JiO^-'an  was  the  son  of  Shikelliinus,  a  Ca\-ui.M  diirf, 
\vlio  had  removed  to  the  l)aid<s  of  the  Susfpidiamia,  nii.'i 
ruled  over  those  of  the  Iroipiois  who  had  settled  in  tli;  * 
vicinity.  liOL-'an  himself  had  attained  authoritv  linth.r  i,, 
the  westward,  upon  the  Ohio,  in  the  Shawanese  eoimtrv. 
lie  had  ever  heen  ol'  a  peaceful  di.s]H)8ition,  and  Iririnliv 
to  tin;  whites, 

A  pai'ty  of  landdiuntcrs,  who  had  chosen  '"'resaji  as  tlicir 
]oad(>r,  are  said  to  have  committed  the  first  direct  a't^nf 
hostility,  in  retaliation  for  a  supposed  theft  of  some  ortlM!-- 
horses.  We  are  told  that  they  iell  upon  and  treaelH'niibI\ 
murdered  s(>veral  of  a  party  of  Indians  whom  thev  li'II  in 
with,  on  the  hank  of  the  Ohio,  below  the  spot  when. 
Wheeling  now  stands,  and  that  among  the  .slain  weresniii' 
relativt>s  of  I/ogan,  With  the  next  rupture,  Cresap  lia.i 
certainly  no  connection,  it  occurred  at  a  white  scttleimnt, 
thirty  or  forty  mih^s  further  np  the  river.  Two  men. 
named  Greathousc  and  Tomlinson,  were  tlu^  ])riiicip:il 
leaders  in  the  affair.  They  liad  ascertained  that  the  In- 
dians, tlien  encamped  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  inti'iidi'l 
an  attack  upon  the  place,  in  retaliation  for  the  nnn-diT.'' 
committed  by  CresajAs  men.  Finding,  on  exaniinalinn. 
that  the  Indians  were  too  numerous  to  be  safely  assaultnl 
in  their  camp,  Greathousc  opened  a  communication  wit'i 
them,  and  invited  them  to  come  and  drink  and  feast  at 
his  house.  A  party  of  armed  whites  lay  concealed  in  a 
separate  apartment,  and  when  the  Indians  became  intoxi- 
cated, slaughtered  the  whole  number,  of  both  sexes,  spar- 


(M ' 


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^S:^ 


TlIK   IU<)(i[:<)lS,  oil  SIX   NATloNrt. 


201) 


in'oiilv  oil.'  cliild.  A  hrotlicr  i\\u\  sisfcr  of  T.n'^'aii  were 
uiiiDii;,'  the  slain.  Mr.  ^^ilye^'s  iict'cMint  (in  which  ihcs  si-cno 
i.s  laid  at  tln'  house  of  "  Hiikcr,"  instead  «>(' (ireafiiousc,)  is 
;,.-  follows: 

"Tlie  evenin;^'  helore  tin;  tra;^^edy,  a  sipiaw  came  ovei'  lo 
DukirV,  and  aroused  the  attention  of  the  inniatr-s  hy  her 
tears  and  manifest  distress.      l*'or  a  lon^  time  she  ivfused 
ti)  (lisi'lose  the  cuuso  of  her  sorrow,  but  at  last,  uIkmi  iri't 
aliiiK!  with  l>aker'.s  wife,  confessed  tliat  tlu;  Indians  had 
r  .-iilvrd  to  kill  the  white  W(jman  and  her  family  the  next 
il„\ ;  hut  as  she  loved  her,  and  did  not  wish  to  src  her 
flaiii,  .she  had  cro.sscd  the  river  to  divulge  the  phjt,  .so  a-S 
i.Miiable  her  friend  to  escape."     Next  day  four  unarmed 
Imliaiis,  with  three  scpiaws  and  a  child,  came  over  to  lea- 
ker's house,  where  twenty-one  men  were  concealnl,   in 
uiiticiiiation  of  attack,  as  above  mentioned.      'I'he  pai1y 
became  intoxicated,  and  I. -gun's  brother  was  insulting  ami 
aliusive:  at  the  .same  time  canoes  filled  with  iiaintcd  anil 
aniu'il  wari'iors  were  seen  starting  from  the  opj)(xsite  shore; 
_iili(iii  which   the   massacre  commenced  as  aboV(!  stated. 
All.  r  this  savage  murder  of  women  and  unarmed   luen, 
tho  whites  left  the  liou.se,  and,  firing  upon  the  canoes,  pre- 
vented their  landing. 
'<      These  occurrences,  with  the  death  of  the  old  Delaware 
]  cliief,  l)ald  Kagle,  wlio  was  cau.selessly  inurdiu-ed,  scalped, 
I  find  .set  adrift  down  the  river  in  his  canoe,  and  the  iuui-iUt 
of  the  Shawanecs  sachem.  Silver  Heels,  brought  down  the 
I   vengeance  of   the  aggrieved    parties    upon   the  devoted 
j  settlements. 

The  ensuing  summer  witnessed  terrible  scenes  of  surjirisc 
I  and  massacre,  the  chief  mover  in  wdiich  was  the  injured 
i  Logan.  Stirred  as  he  was  by  revenge,  the  natural  kind- 
t  ness  of  his  heart  was  shown  in  his  disposition  towa-ds 
captives,  whom,  in  various  instances,  he  favorod  and  saved 
i  fro-n  Indian  cruelties. 


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300 


INlJTVN    KACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


The,  liosUK;  tiihcs  wvvv.  those  of  (ho  Iioqiujls  wIid  dwfli 
in  the  western  eomitrv,  the  Shawiuiees,  the  Dclawans  t'lo 
lowus,  and  o'hei'  nations  of  th(;  west,  I iiileci.MNc  skir- 
mishes ()C(Mij)ie<l  tlie  Slimmer,  and  not  nntil  the  liiih  i,f 
October  was  any  ;i;<Mieral  engagement  'nrmi^ht  :il»nit, 
On  that  (la  a  l)attKj  was  fought  at  Point  Plrasaiit,  wlicnj 
the  (ii'eat  Kanawiia  empties  into  the  Ohio,  In'twivn  tI,o 
coml)ine(l  forecs  of  the  Indians,  and  th(!  A'irginia  trnniis^ 
unihT  ('olon(;l  Andrew  Lewis.  TiOrd  Dunniore,  goviiimr 
of  Virginia,  was  to  eiiopcM-atc;  by  a  movement  uihjh  iIk- 
other  bank  of  the  river,  but  did  not  aetually  take  aii\  ji:irt 
in  tlic  cont(>st. 

The  Indians  numbered  probably  over  a  thousaiKl,  uml 
were  led  by  Logan  and  the  great  wari'ior  ('oin^link. 
Ne'^er  had  tlie  natives  fought  more  desperatciv,  or  iii.ido 
a  stand  against  i'liii'opean  troops  with  moix",  dctiTiiiimd 
firmness.  They  had  i)repared  a  sort  of  breast-woii:,  Ih'. 
hind  whieh  they  maintaininl  their  position,  in  spite  n|' tlic 
rc[)eated  charges  of  the  whites,  until  night.  Thcv  wiv 
at  last  drivcMi  from  their  works  by  a  ec^mpany  drtai'lii'il  to 
fall  upon  their  n^ar,  and,  crossing  the  Ohio,  the  siuvivois 
retreated  westward. 

7\t  Chilicothe,  on  the  Seiota,  the  chiefs  lu^ld  a  graii'l 
consultation;  and  tlieir  prineijial  warrior,  (^ji'iistwck,  si'c- 
ing  that  the  rest  W(M'e  determined  ujjon  no  e(M'taiii  plan  nf 
pnx'CH'ding,  cxpresse(l  his  own  intcuition  of  eonchidiiii;'  ;i 
peace,  lie  ac(;ordin_;ly  sought  Lord  Dunmoi'e,  who  was 
a)>proaclrug  the  camp  on  the  Seiota,  and  brought  aliout  a 
series  of  conferences,  whereby  hostihties  were  for  llic 
time  stayed. 

Logan  would  take  no  part  in  these  negotiations;  lie  is 
reported  to  have  said  that  "he  was  yet  like  a  niad  dn'j; 
his  bristles  were  \ip,  and  were  not  yet  quite  fall'Mi ;  but  l!i'; 
good  talk  1-Ihmi  going  forward  might  allay  tlwMn."  A  iius 
sengiT  was  sent  by  TiOrd  Dunmore  to  strive  to  iijipiaH^ 


i|||.'r 


'^-Mlflil 


'i'  \ !      int 


7IIK   IltOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


,';oi 


Iii:!i  mill  it  wn.s  iijion  that  occasion  lliat  llic  Tinliim  cliicf 
delivcit'il  liiiiisi'lfof  tlioso  eloquent  cx))i(\-^si()iis  tlmt  liavo 
a;t;iiiii'il  ^^'icli  a  world-wide  cclc^bi'ity.  He  walked  inlotlio 
WDdil-  with  Gibson,  who  had  been  sent  to  visit  him,  and, 
R'alin,'-''  himself  upon  a  1*%  "burst  into  t(>ars,"  and  i^avc 
lUti'raiice  to  his  I'eelin^fs  in  tlies(!  words,  as  they  were;  writ- 
tt'ii  ilowii  and  rej>ort(Ml  at  the  tinu^: 

''lapi»i'al  to  any  whit(^  man  to  say  if  ever  he  entered 
Loiraii's  cabin  hungry,  and  he.  gave  him  not  meat;  if  ever 
lit.'camc  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed  him  not?  l)tuing 
llic  coui'sc  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war,  i,ogan  n;- 
iiiai!i('d  idle  In  his  camp,  an  advocate  for  jieace.  Snch  was 
mv  love  for  the  whites,  that  my  co)uitrymen  pointed  as  1 
p;issii|,  and  said:  '  fiOgan  is  the  fj'iend  of  the  whit(>  man!* 
I  had  even  thought  to  have  live(l  with  yon,  but  for  the 
injuries  of  one  man.  Colonel  Crcsaj),  the  last  s]>ring,  in 
coM  hlood  and  uiij)rovoked,  murderccl  ;dl  the  rchitions 
of  l-eLiaii,  not  even  S])aring  my  \v<)meii  and  chiiili'<'n. 
TIhti'  iuiis  not  a  dro[)  of  my  blood  in  tlie  veins  of  any 
liviiiL,^  ereatnn\  This  ealle(l  on  me  for  reveng(\  1  have 
m\vs\\i  it.  1  have  killed  many.  1  iiave  fully  ulutl(;d  niv 
voi!L''caiie(>.  lA)r  my  country,  I  rej(;icc  at  the;  beams  of 
pcaee;  but  do  not  harbor  a  thought  that  mine  is  the  joy 
of  (I'ar.  Logan  never  felt  fear.  Jle  will  not  turn  on  his 
linci  to  save  his  life.  AVho  is  there  to  mourn  for  I.ouan? 
Not  one!" 

Tlic  sulisequent  history  of  this  renowned  warrioi'  is  soon 
told.  lie  led  a  wandering,  intemj)erate  liH;  for  several 
yciu's,  and  took  })art  in  the  wars  at  the  west  in  1770  and 
le^^n.  ![(!  is  described  as  having  become  melap.choly  and 
\vr('t''lied  ill  the  extreme,  ai;d  as  being  d(>prived  of  the  full 
iiw  of  his  reason  by  the  pernicious  habit  of  indulging  in 
Btrong  drink.  lie  came  to  his  death  in  the  latter  year 
under  singular  circumstances.  Tie  had,  as  Ixi  supposed, 
killed  his  wife  during  a  fit  of  intoxication,  and  fled  from 


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--D 


302 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Detroit,  where  lie  had  l)ocn  present  at  an  Indian  coniicil, 
to  evade  the  punishment  awarded  hy  tlie  native  coih. 
On  his  way  towards  Sandusky,  Ik;  fell  in  with  a  larii-e 
party  of  Indians,  among  whom  Avas  a  relative  of  lijs, 
named  Toddcah-dohs,  and  whom  he  took  to  be  the  oiu; 
ai)pointed  to  avenge  the  murder.  Aecording  to  Mi'.  Muv- 
cr's  account,  "  rashly  bursting  forth  into  frantic  ]Kissi(iii, 
he  exclaimed,  ^Phat  the  whole  party  should  fall  hciiciit! 
his  weapons.  Toddsah-dohs,  seeing  their  danger,  and  u]>- 
scrvinu'  tliat  Loiraii  was  well  armed,  told  his  conniaiiiniis 
that  their  only  safety  was  in  getting  the  advantage  of  tlic 
desperate  man  by  prompt  action.  Whilst  l(\i]>inLr  fnim 
his  horse,  to  execute  liis  dreadful  threat,  I'odd^ali-dulis 
levelled  a  shot-gun  within  a  few  fev..:  of  the  savag',  ami 
killed  him  on  the  spot." 

It  may  well  be  supposed  the  whole  of  the  Iror|uois 
tribe  should  have  been  roused  to  indignation  by  tlie  ee- 
currence  which  we  have  described,  and  in  which  some  of 
their  own  brethn^n  had  V)ornc  so  conspieuous  a  part. 
We  are  told  that  this  was  the  case  with  all  of  them  except 
the  Oneidas,  and  that  disaffection  towards  the  eoh^nies  liad 
become  general  amor  g  the  western  tribes. 


1   I 


CHAPTER   IV. 


HISTORY  OF  TiUANT  CONTINUKD  :    CONNECTION  OF   TIIK   SIX  NATIONS 
WITH  TIIK  WAR  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 

In  the  year  ITTo,  Avhen  difhculties  between  the  American 
colonies  and  the  old  country  were  rif(^,  and  the  ])rospoet 
of  a  long  and  desperate  contention  kept  the  minds  of  all 
in  fear  and  anxiety,  it  was  felt  to  be  necessary  on  the  part 
of  the  A  merit  ms,  and  jxditie  on  the  }>art  of  the  English, 
to  use  everv  endeavor  to  i^ecure  the  services  of  the  .'^ix 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


X;itii)iis.  Tlic  remembrance  of  tlieir  noble  jtatron,  Sir 
■Williiuii  Johnson,  caused  the  ^lohawks  and  many  others 
of  the  c(-)nle(lL'raey  to  adhere  firmly  to  his  son-iu-law  and 
suoccssur,  Guy  Johnson,  and  when  he  (led  'svestwaifl  1o 
the  lakes,  to  avoid  the  danger  (jf  ea})tnre  by  tlie  Ai:i(T- 
icaiis,  Ih'aiit  and  the  principal  waii'iors  of  the  tribe 
ficcompanied  him.  A  great  meeting  was  held  by  them,  to 
discuss  the  policy  which  they  should  pursue;  after  which, 
Johnson  and  his  chiefs  proceeded  to  ^^ontreal,  f')ll(>\ved 
Iv  a  strong  body  of  Indian  warriors.  Sir  Guy  Carlclon 
encouraged  the  lro(piois  sachems  to  accept  commissions 
under  the  king,  and,  what  with  his  ])romiscs,  their  attach- 
ment to  the  Johns(;n  family,  and  the  remend)ran.ce  of  old 
j'k'd.Lres,  they  were  thoroughly  confirmed  in  their  })urpose 
(jf  taking  a  decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  royal  cause. 

Tiic  cllbrts  of  the  Americans  proved  less  sue  x\'^sful.  ]\y 
tlie  aid  of  a  Mr.  Kirkland,  missionary  to  the  Oneidas,  the 
lavor  of  that  tribe  was  gi'catly  conciliated.  lbs  elVoils 
were  assisted  by  the  influence  of  the  Indians  of  Stoclc- 
LridLic,  a  town  in  westei'n  Massachusetts.  Theso  were  the 
reuiains  of  varioiis  celebrated  triV)es  which  liad  lung 
coa.-ed  to  maintain  a  sejiarate  national  existence,  'fhe 
jirineipal  portion  of  them  were  descendants  of  the  ancient 
Mdlieakannuk,  ^[ohic;'ns,  or  lliver  Indians,  who  dwelt  on 
tlie  hanks  of  the  Hudson  in  the  early  times  of  Aniei'ican 
oiloni/.ation;  but  with  tliem  were  associated  miiny  ol'  the 
Xarragansetts  and  Pequots,  fi-om  Khode  Island  and  Con- 
necticut, 'J'hev  were  entirely  under  the  influence  of  the 
Americans,  and  favorable  to  their  cause. 

A  very  touching  incident  of  private  history,  connected 
with  this  collection  of  dismend)ered  tribes  af\er  tlieir  I'e- 
moval  westward,  has  been  immortalized  in  the  beautiful 
poetical  Icgeiul  by  Bryant,  entitled  "^ronument  ^^ountain." 
The  mountain  stancLs  in  Great  Barrington,  (western  }*hus- 
sadms'-'ts,)  overlooking  tbc  rich  and  pictures(iue  valley  of 


. 


ill « 


ir^'i 


I    !!' 


-I 


ii-i  (1 


V. 

■A  )A 


I  :■ 


h  ' 


Iff 


li 


I 


301 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEIUCA. 


tlie  ITousatonic.  The  following  note  is  ap];)cndc(l  to  tlie 
poem.  "Until  witliin  a  few  years  ])ast,  small  parlies  of 
that  ti'ibe  used  to  arrive,  froiri  their  settlement,  in  ilic 
western  ])art  of  the  state  of  New  York,  on  visits  U)  Stock- 
bridge,  tlie  plaee  of  their  nativit}^  and  former  residence. 
A  young  woman,  belonging  to  one  of  these  parties,  rel>it'  il 
to  a  fi'iend  of  thi^  author  the  story  on  which  the  jiociu  of 
Monument  Arountain  is  founded.  An  Indian  giil  liad 
formed  an  attaehment  for  her  cousin,  which,  according  to 
the  customs  of  the  tribe,  was  unlawful.  She  was,  in  con- 
sequence, seized  with  a  deep  melancholy,  and  resolveil  to 
destroy  herself,  in  company  with  a  female  fj'iend,  slic 
repaired  to  the  mountain,  decked  out  for  the  occasion  in 
all  her  ornaments,  and  after  ])assing  the  day  on  the  sum- 
mit, in  singing,  with  her  companion,  the  traditional  songs 
of  her  nation,  she  threw  herself  headlong  from  the  rock, 
and  was  killed." 

*     *     *     "Here  the  friends  s.it  tliem  down, 
And  8;ing  ;ill  d:iy  old  sonjfs  of  love  and  dcatli, 
And  docki'd  llio  poor  wan  victim's  hair  willi  flowers, 
And  prayed  that  safe  and  swift  might  be  lier  way 
To  the  calm  world  of  sunshine,  whore  no  grief 
Midces  the  heart  heavy,  and  the  eyelids  red." 

A  conical  pile  of  stones  marks  the  spot  where  she  was 
buried,  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  mountain. 

The  regular  successor  to  old  king  llendric,  among  the 
Afohawdcs,  was  Little  Abraham,  a  chief  well  disposed 
towards  the  Americans,  and  who  remained  in  the  Molia-A'k 
valley  when  Johnson  and  his  followers  fled  to  Caiiiula. 
lie  appears  to  have  possessed  but  little  authority  dmhi,::; 
the  subsequent  diflicultics,  and  Brant,  by  a  sort  of  univer- 
sal conseiit  among  those  in  the  English  interest,  obtained 
the  position  of  principal  chief.  lie  was  commissioned  as 
a  captain  in  the  British  army,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1775, 


TIIK  IKocjlUlS,  on  SIX  NATIONS. 


305 


sflileil  to  Pingland,  to  hold  personal  coufercnce  with  the 
officers  of  govci-nmont. 

lie  was  au  ()l)j('ct  of  inucli  curiosity  Jit  Loiidon,  and  at- 
tnu'tod  the  attc^iilion  of  persons  <jf  high  rank  and  great 
irlcliritv.     His  court  di'ess  was  a  brilHant  equipment  inod- 


eln 


1  upon  the  fashions  of  liis  own  race;  hut  onhnarily  he 
appeared  in  the  usual  citizen's  dress  of  the  tuue. 

(,'(.)ii firmed  in  his  loyalty  to  the  English  crown,  ]lrant 
returned  to  America  in  the  ensuing  spring.  Tic  was 
pecrctly  land(Ml  at  some  sjiot  near  New  York,  and  madt> 
the  best  of  his  way  to  Canada.  The  journey  was  frauirlit 
with  danger  to  such  a  traveler,  through  a  disturbed  and 
cxciti.'d  eommunity,  but  the  native  sagacity  and  watch- 
fulness of  the  Indian  enal)led  our  chief  to  avoid  them. 

Ih'ant  was  gladly  received,  and  the  services  of  his  Avar- 
likc  Mohawks  were  promptly  called  into  rerpiisitiou.  He 
I'd  his  people  at  the  a  flair  of  "the  Cedars,"  which  termi- 
nated so  disastrously  for  the  American  interests.  Wt-  can- 
ii'it  niinutely  follow  his  movements,  nor  those  of  the  several 
ho'piois  tribes,  for  a  consideral)le  period  subse(pient  to 
thi'se  events.  Those  were  stirring  times,  and  in  flu-  mo- 
lufutoiis  detail  of  the  birth  of  American  independenee,  it 
is  not  always  easy  to  follow  out  anv  private  history. 

Colonel  Stone,  in  liis  life  of  Rrant,  gives  us  the  follow- 
ing speech,  as  coming,  at  the  beginning  of  the  ensuing 
year,  fiom  the  chiefs  of  the  Oneidas  to  Colonel  Elmore, 
coiiiniandant  at  f<jrt  Schuyler.  lie  does  not  attempt  to 
explain  the  full  import  of  it: 

"Fort  Scuvvi.kr,  .Tnn.  lOtli,  1777. 
"  Speech  of  the  Oneida  Chiefs  to  Colonel  Elmorr. 

"Brother:  "We  are  sent  here  by  the  Oneida  chiefs,  in 
'jonjunction  with  tlie  Onoiidagas.  They  arrived  at  our 
village  yesterday.  They  gave  us  the  melancholy  news 
that  the  grand  council-fire  at  Onondaga  was  extinguished. 
We  Lave  lost,  out  of  their  town,  by  death,  ninety,  among 
20 


-»N 


•V. 


f  ,  'ik 


i 


tf 


i 


Jii       -  '     '  '■ 

n  '  k;,'i    .,,1  < 


I  !i 


Whi 


% 


% 


306 


INDIAN    KACKri  Oi''  A.\li;i;i'  A. 


whom  arc  three  princij)al  sachcins.  Wo,  the  iT'iuaiuiii" 
part  of  the  Onondagas,  do  now  iiiforni  our  hnrtlirm  ilmt 
tli(;ro  is  no  lon.i^^or  a  oouncil-firo  at  the  capital  of  tin'  Six 
JN'iitions.  However,  we  arc  deteriaincd  U)  use  our  lid,!,. 
endeavours  to  support  peace  tlirougli  tlie  ec^ifcdcrntc  na- 
tions.  liut  let  this  be  kept  in  mind,  that  the;  emiiicil-iiir 
is  extinguished.  It  is  of  im])ortanee  to  our  well-])rii|._', 
that  this  be  immediately  communit-ated  tc;  (iencijd  Selaiv- 
ler,  and  also  to  our  brothers  the  Mohawks.  In  onlir  to 
efTect  this,  we  deposit  this  belt  with  'rekeyanednnlinUi'. 
Colonel  Elmore,  commander  at  Fort  Schuyler,  who  is  sriit 
here  by  General  Schuyler  to  transact  all  matters  relativr 
to  peace.  AVe  theref(M-c  request  him  to  forward  this  intel- 
ligence, in  the  first  place  to  Genei'al  Herkimer,  dcsiriiiL: 
him  to  communicate  it  to  the  Mohawk  Castle  ue;ir  to  liim, 
and  then  to  Major  Fonda,  requesting  him  to  ininiediattlv 
communicate  it  to  the  lower  castle  of  the  Mohawks.  Lit 
the  belt  then  be  forwarded  to  General  Schuyler,  that  lie 
may  know  that  our  council-fire  is  extinguished,  and  can 
no  longer  burn." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  winter  of  1777,  it  was  fiiind 
that  the  Indians  were  collecting  in  force  at  Oizlikwaiia.  en 
the  Susquehanna,  and  the  fears  of  the  colonial  jM)pulatiiin 
of  tlie  vicinity  were  justly  excited,  although  no  (^pen  »l'- 
monstrations  of  hostility  had  been  made  by  them.  ]u  t'lc 
course  of  the  spring,  Brant  and  his  followers  proccnlol 
across  the  countr}',  from  Canada  to  Oghkwaga.  llcliail 
disagreed  with  his  superior,  Guy  Johnson.  1'he  whites 
were  in  great  doubt  as  to  what  course  this  renowned  cliiff 
would  take  in  the  struggle  then  going  forward,  but  he 
seemed  only  to  occupy  himself  in  collecting  and  disciplin- 
ing his  warriors.  It  was  afterwards  ascertained  th:it  be 
was  the  leader  of  a  party  of  Indians  who  threatened  the 
little  fortification  at  Cherrv-A^Lllev,  in  the  month  of  Mav. 


THE  lUOQUOIS,  OK  SIX  NATIONS.  6' U 

Tiic  only  bloofl  sIkmI  upon  the  occasiDii  \\';is  lliiit  of  Lieu- 
tenant Wormwood,  a  young  ollicer  whom  llio  Indians 
^vavl;lid  and  shot,  as  he  was  leaving  the  place,  aceompa- 
iiiinl  by  a  single  companion,  bearing  dispatclies.  l^rant  is 
saiil  to  have  scalped  him  with  his  own  hand.  The  Indian 
c'liief  was  deceived  as  to  the  strength  of  the  place,  by  the 
(luplicity  of  the  dispatches,  and  by  the  cireumsiancc  that 
a  number  of  boys  were  going  through  military  evolutioiis 
at  the  settlement,  whom  he  mistook,  in  the  distance,  for 
soldiers.  Ho  therefore  retired  without  making  any  farther 
(leinonstratiou. 

In  June,  he  visited  Unadilla,  on  the  small  river  of  the 
same  name,  which  empties  into  the  Susquehanna,  forming 
tlie  boundary  between  Otsego  and  Chenango  counties. 
Ills  purpose  was  to  procure  provisions,  which  were  per- 
force furnished  him;  as  he  avowed  his  intention  to  take 
tlicni  by  violence,  if  necessary.  At  a  conference  held,  at 
this  time,  with  some  C)f  the  authorities.  Brant  expressed 
himself  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  ro\'al  cause,  alluding  to 
the  old  covenants  and  treaties  which  his  nation  liad  in 
former  times  entered  into  with  the  king,  and  complaining 
of  ill-treatment  received  at  the  hands  of  the  colonists. 

Shortly  after,  during  thi;  .same  month.  General  Herki- 
mer, of  the  American  militia,  took  a  strong  force  with 
liim,  and  started  for  Brant's  head-quarters,  whether  with 
intention  of  attacking  him,  or  merely  to  treat  upon  terms 
of  equality,  hardly  appears. 

brant  was  very  cautious  of  trusting  himself  in  the  ene- 
mies' hands.  Jle  did  not  show  him.self  f)r  a  week  after 
Herkimer's  arrival,  and  when  he  finally  appeared,  and 
consented  to  a  conference,  he  was  accompanied  and  de- 
fended by  five  hundred  Indian  warriors.  Every  precau- 
tion was  taken  against  treachery;  the  meeting  was  held  at 
.1  temporary  building  erected  mid-way  between  the  two 
encampments,  and  the  respective  parties  were  to  assemble 


\h 


t    t^ 


•  I-'*'' 


IM''' 


if' 


808 


IN]>IAN'  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


at  tlio  ppot  nnanncil.  Tlic  Indian  cliicf  took  witli  liim  a 
guard  of  about  fort}''  warriors,  and  was  accorn])anir(l  l)v 
one  Captain  I'ull,  of  the  Englisli  part}',  and  by  his  ncjilion-, 
William  Ji)hnson,  a  son  of  Molly  Brant  by  Sir  Willijun. 

ricncnil  II(Mkiinor  had  long  been  on  terms  of  friendshi]) 
with  Brant,  before  the  troubles  arose  between  England  aiid 
the  America!!  eolonies,  and  he  vainly  hoped  to  be  able  to 
influenee  and  jjersuade  him  into  eomplaisance  towards  iLi' 
new  government.  Tiayendanegea  was  suspleious,  and 
looked  wiih  an  evil  eye  upon  the  liostile  array  of  trooj,.'*, 
shrewdly  questioning  the  necessity  for  such  preparations 
for  a  mer;'  meeting  of  conference.  He  fully  confinned  tin' 
supposition  that  he  was  determined  to  sujiport  the  kin^'. 
and  evinced  a  jiroud  dependence  upon  the  power  and 
couraue  of  his  own  tribe. 

The  jiarley  terminated  most  unsatisfactorily,  and  anotlior 
appointment  was  made.  We  are  sorry  to  record  an  in- 
stance of  such  im])ardonable  treachery  as  Herkimer  is  said 
to  have  planned  at  this  juncture.  One  of  his  men,  Joscpli 
Waggoner,  aflirmed  that  the  general  privately  exhorted 
him  to  arrange  matters  so  that  l^rant  and  his  three  princi- 
pal associates  might  be  assassinated  when  they  should 
present  themselves  at  the  place  of  meeting.  '^I'he  Indian 
chief,  when  he  came  to  the  co'incil,  kept  a  large  body  of 
his  warriors  within  call,  so  that  the  design,  even  if  it  had 
been  seriously  entertained  by  Waggoner,  could  not  W 
safely  carried  out. 

lirant  counselled  the  general  to  go  quietly  liome,  as  Iw 
could  not  but  perceive  how  much  he  was  out-numbered  if 
his  intent  Wiis  hostile.  He  disavowed  any  present  inimi- 
cal design.  Herkimer  accordingly  took  his  departun'. 
and  Brant,  not  long  after,  marched  his  warriors  to  tin' 
British  place  of  rendezvous,  at  Oswego.  Here  a  great 
council  was  held  with  the  Indian  tribes  by  P]nglish  emissa- 
ries, who  enlarged  upon  the  ingratitude  and  rebellious 


rii 


THE  lUOyL'OIS,  OH  .<IX  NATU)NS. 


309 


spirit  of  tlic  provinces,  and  compared  the  power  and  wealth 
of  tlicir  own  monarch  with  the  poverty  of  the  Americans. 

Ahun(hinee  of  finery  and  waiTike  implements  were 
spread  before  the  greedy  eyes  of  the  warriors,  and  tiny 
were  told  that  "the  king  was  rich  and  powerful,  both  in 
money  and  subjects.  His  rum  was  as  plenty  as  the  water 
ill  Lake  Ontario,  and  his  men  as  numerous  as  the  sands 
ujion  its  shore;  and  the  Indians  were  assured  that,  if  they 
would  assist  in  the  war,  and  })ersevere  in  their  friendship 
Uir  the  king  until  its  close,  they  should  never  want  for 
^^)()ds  or  money." 

The  bargain  was  struck  accordingly,  and  each  warrior 
wlio  pledged  himself  to  the  royal  cause  received,  as  earn- 
est of  future  favors,  a  suit  of  clothes,  a  brass  kettle,  a 
I'linaliawk,  a  scalpingdcnife,  and  a  supply  of  ammunition, 
besides  a  small  present  in  money.  The  sagacity  and 
enterprise  of  the  chief,  whose  power  was  now  almost 
universally  submitted  to  by  those  of  the  Six  Nations  that 
favored  the  cause  of  the  king,  rendered  the  alliance  a 
iurniidable  one. 

The  gloomy  j)rospects  of  the  colonies,  disheartened  as 
dioy  were  by  reverses  and  jiccuuiary  distress,  grew  tenfold 
darker  at  the  a})})rehension  of  such  a  bloody  and  cruel 
border  warfare  as  they  might  ncnv  antit;ipate.  Exaggerateil 
tales  were  every  where  circulated  of  the  extent  of  Indian 
depredations  and  cruelties.  There  was,  indeed,  sullicient 
foundation  in  truth  for  the  greatest  apprehension  and  dis- 
tress. It  is  due  to  many  of  the  British  commanding 
officers  to  say  that  they  bitterly  regretted  the  association 
of  their  party  with  a  horde  of  murderous  savages,  over 
whose  actts  they  could  exercise  no  control,  when  out  of 
their  immediate  influence.  Ikirgoyne  refused  to  pay  the 
expected  bounty  for  scalps,  to  the  intense  disgust  of  his 
Indian  forces;  and,  to  the  remonstrance  on  the  part  of 
the  American  general,  against  the  permission  of  the  bloody 


mP: 


,A 


■#•'! 


m 


I  • 


H 


.''^l 


liiif'' 


5   *H 


;i! 


::tf7^^ 


■1  s^ 


310 


INlJlAX    It.VKS  or  AMKKIC  A. 


sccncH  wliicli  wen;  coiitiiiiiiilly  ciKicliiii.'',  lie  i-ctiinicd  ar. 
el()<nu!iit  (lisclaiiiu'i'  of  parlicipiitiuii  in  or  iiir(iiir;i;,>ciii,.iit 
of  such  jic!s. 

A  \ar<so  jxijMilation  of  those  wlio  resided  in  the  (li>tritt.s 
more  iiuiiied.iately  e.\j>osed,  were  (hivfii  IVnin  tlicir  dwell- 
iii;js  !)}•  the  Tear  of  Iiidian  cniellies,  l)iiriii,ij;  I>ui';jii\in.',s 
advanee,  an  incident  oi-eiirred  which  excited  the  stiviijot 
emotions  of  horror  and  indignation  throughout  the  r(tuiiirv. 
We  allude  to  the  wclhknown  talc  of  the  nMirdcr  of  Miss 
Jane  Mi'/'rea.  Few  incidents  have  attraetv'd  moii-  iiDticu 
in  the  whole  course  of  Indian  w.",rfare  than  this,  and  li'w 
have  Ik'l'U  rej)orted  in  so  variant  and  distorted  a  st\lc, 
Miss  McCrea  was  the  daughter  of  a  gentleman  of  Nrw 
Jersey,  and  was  residing,  at  tlie  jeritnl  of  our  jui'siiit 
narrative,  with  her  hrotlier  John,  near  Fort  I'Mward,  iipnii 
the  Hudson,  within  a  few  miles  of  Saratoga.  Her  fimilv 
was  of  tlio  royal  parly,  and  she  was  herself  engagcil  to 
marry  a  young  (^fheer  by  the  name  of  Jones,  then  on  duty 
in  Burgo3'ne's  army. 

The  promised  husband  commissioned  a  few  Tiidinus  to 
go  to  the  young  lady's  dwelling,  and  escort  her  thence  to 
the  British  camp.  Against  the  urgent  entreaties  of  Ikt 
friends,  she  put  herself  under  the  protecti(jn  (jf  these  un- 
certain messengers,  and  started  for  the  encampment,  iler 
lover,  anxious  that  his  errand  should  be  faithfully  per- 
formed, dispatched  a  second  paity  to  join  the  convoy.  Tlio 
two  companies  met  a  short  distance  from  Fort  Kdwanl, 
and  were  })rocecding  together  when  they  were  attacktd 
by  a  party  of  iVmericans.  "  At  the  close  of  the  skirniisli,"' 
says  Stone,  "the  body  of  Miss  McCrea  was  found  among 
the  slain — tomahawd<ed,  scalped,  and  tied  to  a  pine-tree, 
yet  standiiig  by  the  side  of  the  spring,  as  a  monument  of 
the  bloody  transaction.  The  name  of  the  young  lady  i.s 
inscribed  on  the  tree,  the  truidc  of  wdiieh  is  thickly  scarred 
with  the  bullets  it  received  in  the  skirmish.     It  also  bears 


iiJ 


TIIK  IiloQroiS,  OK  SIX   NATIONS. 


311 


the  (lati!  1 


Ml. 


]\o  cites  fiirtlKM',  fnim  '^illijunn.    "Tradi- 


tion rcjiorts  tliat  till!  Iiiiliiiiis  (li\  idcd  t'i(!  scalp,  and  that 
eiU'li  ]iarty  cairicil  half  df  it  to  the  a;j;tnii/('d  lover." 

The  at'coiiiit  usually  I'cccivi'd  of  tlic  inanucr  in  wlddi 
her  death  was  l)r(ju<,dit  ahout  is,  that  the,  eldefs  ol' the  two 
Indian  eotiniaules,  <iuarrelliii,<^  as  to  wdneh  sliould  r(>eeive 
tlio  reward  (a  barrel  of  rum)  ju-ounsed  by  .Jones,  one  ol' 
tlicni,  to  end  the  dis})ute,  bui'ied  his  tomahawk  in  the  head 
of  their  eharij^e. 

l)urin,tr  this  month,  (duly,)  CKMicral  Barry  St,  T.eiier 
marelicd  IVom  ()sw(>;j^o,  with  neaily  two  thousand  wliites 
and  bidians — the  latter  led  by  'rhayeiidaneg(>a — to  the 
investiture  of  Fort  Stanwix.  This  stron^^hold  of  the  pro- 
vincial jiarty  oeeupied  the  spot  wdiere  Kome  now  stands, 
in  Oneida  county,  near  the  head-waters  of  the  >[oliawk. 
The  post  was  afterwards  called  l*'ort  Schuyler.  ^Idie  forces 
•  if'St.  L(\ucr  bes(,'t  the  fort  on  the  od  of  Auufust. 

The  most  interesting  event  connected  with  the  part 
taken  by  the  Indians  in  this  siege,  is  tin;  l>loody  batth;  of 
Oriskany.  ^riu!  brave  old  soldier,  (uuieral  llerk'inier,  with 
Iniui  ciLilit  humb'cd  to  a  thousand  militia  and  \()lunteers, 
hastened  to  relieve  the  garrison  as  s<ion  as  the  news  of  St. 
Lewr's  design  was  bro>io;ht.  Unfortunatidv,  the  Mu'jlish 
eomninmler  obtained  information  of  the  apju-oaeh  of  rein- 
furccnients  in  suHleient  season  to  ])repaiv  an  andtuseade  at 
a  spot  the  m^'tst  disadvantageous  jx)ssibk!  for  the  advancing 
troops.  Where  a  marshy  ravine,  over  -which  the  })at1i  of 
the  American  army  was  carried  by  a  caustnvay,  ]>artially 
inclosed  a  dry  and  level  tract,  lirant  and  his  warrioi-s,  with 
a  body  of  English  troops,  lay  concealed.  Before  IlerkimcT 
and  his  men  were  aware  of  danger,  the  main  portion  of 
their  nundwr  was  completely  surrounded,  and  cut  off  from 
the  baL^cra'j'C  and  rear-<fuard. 

Broken  and  disordered  by  the  murderous  and  unex- 
pected fire  of  the  enemy,  the  Americans  met  with  terrible 


\f-    i 


(!•         t' 


ir 


Vr 

Ik' 


11'  if 

f  1 1; 


«    ,r 


i    ■' 


t  I 


l|:rii.|i 


1 


It 


■  i  I 


iUAfitl 


tmi 


812 


IMMAN    RACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


loss,  l^ctrcat  w.mm  out  of  tlio  question,  and  qraduallv,  on- 
courn^rd  by  the  cxlKU'liitioiiM  of  llicir  liruv(!  ciiiiiinniMliT 
wli<»,  tillliougli  si'Vfi'cly  woiiiidrd,  sat  sii|i|)Mrlfd  by  a  tivt- 
coolly  issuiii^  Ids  orders,  tliey  f(jniieil  defensivo  cinl.s. 
Siieli  scones  of  desperate  haml  to  band  li^btiii;^'  as  eiisiiij 
bave  sel(b)iii  bei'U  reeonb'd.  The  destnirt'iDii  on  ]„,\\]^ 
sides  was  great,  more  tlian  two  Immb-ed  of  the  Aniciicuis 
being  kille(I  on  the  s[)ot.  Both  parties  laiil  claim  to  ji  vic- 
tory; but  it  ap[iears  sudieieiitly  certain  that  the  liKlim.s 
were  dispei'sed,  while  the  j)rovincial  militia  held  tl^ir 
groun(b  'J'he  purpose  oC  the  advance  was,  iruU'ed,  del('iil(  ^1, 
<'xcept  so  far  as  it  gave  opportunity  for  a  sueccssful  ,>-,i!Iv 
from  the  fort,  in  which  lie  British  were  driven  from  tlirir 
encampment,  and  a  great  quantity  of  valuable  booty  \v;is 
obtained. 

One  wbo  passed  tbo  sjiot  wliere  the  battle  of  Orisl^imv 
was  fought,  a  few  (biys  afterwards,  wi'itcs:  *'I  bclicld  tim 
most  shocking  sight  I  had  ever  witiicsse(b  '^fhe  ludiaiis 
and  white  men  were  mingled  with  one  another,  just  [\? 
they  bad  been  left  wdien  death  had  lirst  complcU'd  liin 
"work.  Many  boibcs  had  also  been  toi'ii  to  pieces  by  \\u<\ 
beasts."  The  veteraJi  commander  of  the  proviiiei;ils  die,! 
in  consequence  of  tbe  wound  he  had  rceei\-ed.  'i'lie  Inss 
experienced  by  the  Mohawks  and  otheis  of  tlu^  Six 
Nations  wbo  took  {)art  in  tin;  engagemeiit,  was  loii^::'  iv- 
membercd  and  lamented  by  their  ti'ibes. 

"Notwitlistandingtlie  reverses  \]\:\\  Collowed ;  tbo  discum- 
fiture  of  tbe  Phiglisb;  tbe  growing  ])ower  and  eoiitidnice 
of  tbe  Americans;  and  the  long  and  clo([ucnt  appe;il  ^f 
minu'lcd  warning  mid  conciliation  connnunicatcd  to  tliom 
by  Congress,  all  of  tbe  Six  Nations  excc})t  the  Oiuiilad 
and  tbe  Tuscaroras  rcn).ained,  at  the  close  of  the  ycai",  f;i.st 
friends  of  tbe  king.  The  poverty  of  the  colonies  prol'i'.i- 
ited  that  display  of  rewards  whicb  the  loyalists  ceiiid 
proffer,  aud  constant  intimacy  enabled  the  jiobtic  oilic  rs 


TUK  IROQl'OIS,  on  SIX  NATIONS. 


;u3 


of  tlio  crown  to  s^viiy  tli(^  i;j;iioi-;iiit  luiiids  of  tin;  Tiul'uiiis, 
atui  to  tc.'ieh  tlicMii  to  look  upon  tlifir  white  comitryrncn  as 
an  vminincipU'd  people,  cngaj^'cd  in  a  hopeless;  as  well  lis 
causeless  rebellion. 


ClIAPTKll  V. 

CONTINirATION  dl"   IH'.VOl.trTIONARY  INrlDKNTS. 

TllK  year  1778  opened  unfavorahly  for  Anieriean  in- 
fluciu'O  over  the  border  sava.^es.  .lohuson  and  JiutliT, 
aided  by  .Josei»h  ]>rant,  in  In-half  of  ilu!  <aovvn,  had  been 
unwearied  in  their  ell'oits  to  win  over  the  Indians  of  the 
west  to  their  niastei"'s  cause.  In  vain  was  a  eouneil  ealled 
1)V  the  jirovini-iiil  eoniii't'ss  for  the  purpose  of  making  one 
more  etlbrt  to  induce  tlu,'  Six  Nations  to  adopt  a  ncutrul 
j)()licv.  An  inconij»let<j  deputation,  iioni  all  the  trdn'S 
except  tlie  Scnecas,  did  indeed  assend)le  at  .Johnstown,  in 
Tryon  county,  during  the  month  of  March,  the  ivsult  of 
which  meeting  only  strengthened  the  convii^tion  that  noth- 
ing but  enmity  was  to  be  looked  for  on  the  j)ai't  of  the 
great  body  of  the  nation.  Tluu'e  was  too  great  n.'ason  ti) 
fear  tliat  the  Indians  of  the  far  west  were  sueeessfully 
dealt  with  by  emissaries  on  the  jiart  of  the  loyalists. 

Drant  returned  to  his  old  ([uartei's  at  Oghkwaga,  ami  its 
vicinity,  and  lent  himself  heart  and  soul  to  tlu',  woi'k  of 
harassing  and  plundering  the  eohMiists,  Although,  as 
the  chief  of  his  nation,  no  snudl  jiortiou  of  the  enormities 
coininitted  by  the  Indian  predatory  bands,  was  attributed 
to  his  direct  influenee,  it  is  due  to  Brant  U)  say,  that  iew 
among  his  eompanions-in-arms  showed  an  etpial  regard  for 
the  laws  of  humanity.  Many  an  instance  is  recorded  of 
his  interference,  even  in  the  heat  of  connict,  to  stay  the 
haul  uplifted  against  the  feeble  and  helpless.     He  wa>,  it 


il 


11 

I 


il'l 


•  f 


li'i  4 

^Vp  : 


■  i  .  ■."If 


i 


ill 


;i   ( 


:riiii 


S14 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMKKh'A. 


is  truo,  a  finrcc  partisan -warrior,  and,  in  one  of  Ills  ]rttr:>, 
uvowcmI  Ills  intent  to  "fight  the  cruel  rebels,"  as  well  as  lir; 
could;  but  lie  seldom,  if  ever,  evinced  that  savaj^c  enicliv 
towards  a  eoii(|U(,'i'ed  foe  which  dis^-raced  his  Indian  ami 
white  assoeiales. 

While  Ihe  war  lasted,  there  was  no  rest  or  safctv  for  tin.' 
inhabitants  of  that  extensive  disti'ict  bordcrinu^  on  the 
enemies'  country — fr(jm  Saratoga,  south-westward  to  tin; 
Sus(jU(hanna.  Bi'ant  commenced  ojuTatioiis  in  piM'soii,  liv 
an  attack  (^n  Sj)ringfield,  a  small  place  at  the  head  of  Ot- 
sego lake,  lie  drove  (jfl'  or  took  prisonei'S  all  the  iiii'ii,  ami 
a'^send)ling  the  women  and  children  for  safety,  burncil  all 
the  tcjwn  exc(^i)t  the  house  whci'c  they  were  collected,  lie 
then  nMiicfl,  ollering  them  no  injury. 

Tu  the  latter  ])art  of  June,  a  descent  was  plamied  u]ioii 
the  settlements  in  the  valley  of  Wyoming,  ni)ou  the  Sus- 
(piehaiiiia,  'u  the  north-(>astern  part  of  reniisytvaiiia. 
Some  three  hundred  ])ritish  regidars  and  torv  vnhmtirrs, 
accompanie(I  by  about  five  hundred  ofthcii-  Indian  ailii'S, 
marched  from  Niagara,  'fliey  were  led  by  Colonel  John 
]>utler.  It  has  been  a  conimoidy  received  opinion  that 
l>rant  was  tlu;  chief  under  whom  the  iuilian  portion  of  the 
army  was  nuistei'cd,  but  it  is  now  believed  that  he  had  as  lit- 
tle share  in  this  campaign  as  in  many  other  scenes  of  l)h)()(l 
]ongcou])led  with  his  name.  'J'here  is  no])roof  that  he  was 
present  at  any  of  the  scenes  that  we  ai'c  ab(nit  to  relate. 

No  portion  of  the  whole  histoiw  of  the  revolution  has 
L)cen  ^•o  distortec^  in  the  narration  as  that  connected  with 
the  laving  wasti;  of  the  valli'y  of  Wvoming.  No  two  a*'- 
counts  seem  to  agree,  and  historians  ha\'e  striven  to  out-do 
each  other  in  the  violence  of  tlu'ir  ex])re.ssions  of  indigna- 
tion, at  cruelties  and  horrors  which  existed  oidy  in  their 
own  imaginations,  oi-  which  came  to  them  cmbcllisliPil 
with  all  (he  exaggi'ration  incident  to  reports  arising  aiuid 
scenes  of  excitcjuent  a,nd  blood.shed. 


TlIK  IKOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


315 


Wyrjiiiiiig  had,  for  many  years,  been  tlie  soono  (jf  tlio 
Ijittcrost  hostility  between  the;  setth'i's  under  the  Connecti- 
cut grant  and  those  innn  Pennsylvania.  Although  these 
Witrlike  operations  were;  upon  a  small  rrale,  tliey  were  eon- 
ducted  with  givat  vindietiveness  and  treachery.  lUood 
was  Irciiuently  shed;  ami,  as  either  party  obtained  the  as- 
a'Uilaney,  small  I'avor  was  shown  h)  iheii-  opponents,  who 
woro  generally  driven  I'rom  their  homes  in  hopi.'lcss  desti- 
tution. AVc  cannot  go  into  a  histoiy  of  these  early  trans- 
aotions,  and  only  mention  them  as  explanatory  of  the 
lahiigs  ol' savage  animosity  wliieh  were  exhii)ited  between 
iioi'^libors,  and  oven  mendjers  of  the  same  families,  w  lio 
h;ulcs])oused  ()])posite  int(!rests  in  the  I'cvohilionai'y  contest.. 

As  John  Buthu' and  his  foi'ees  enteivd  tluj  north-west- 
oru  portion  of  the  valley,  having  descended  the  Siisi[ue- 
liaima  upon  rafts,  the  iidiabitaiits  (jf  the  sevi'ral  towns 
made  the  best  preparations  in  their  })ower  to  ivsist  the  in- 
vasion. Coliiucd  Zebulon  IJutUu"  was  in  eommand  ol'  a 
company  of  regidar  continental  trooj)S,  and  with  alxjut 
three  Inuab'ed  of  the  militia,  collected  in  the  \a!ley,  lie 
marched  on  the  od  of  duly,  to  cheek  and,  if  imssibli}, 
disperse  the  invaders.  It  was  intended  to  take  tlu;  enemy 
by  snr[)riso  at  their  encampimMit,  (at  l*'ort  Wintcrmoot,) 
iiul  the  vigilance  of  tlu;  Indian  sentinels  bcti'aycd  the  ad- 
vancing forces.  ^I'hey  R)und  tin;  i'<nalists  di'awn  up,  and 
rcadv  to  ifivc  them  battle.  Their  line  was  extended  i'rom 
the  river,  on  their  left,  to  a  marsh,  iM'yond  whi<di  j'ose  the 
mountain  range  which  boundeil  t!ie  valley.  The  Indian 
\Viirrii)rs  were  stationed  at  the  right  by  the  bordei's  ol' 
the  swamp. 

The  whole  line  was  simidtaneously  attacked  by  the 
provincial.-;,  as  they  i-ame  uj).  Colonel  l)cnnison,  who 
CGtiu^umded  the  lei't  wing  of  the  .Aniei'ic'an  army,  perceiv- 
ing tliat  a  strong  b(.)dy  of  the  Indians  had  foi'ced  their  way 
tbrovigh  the  marsh,  and  wi're  about  to  attack  him   in  the 


,  « 


^uiWM^ 


t .; 


316 


INDIAX  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


rear,  giivc  an  order  to  fall  Ijack,  that  his  troops  iiii:jiit  imi 
l)i>  ■iurrounded.  This  coiiuiiaiid  was  riiistakeu  for  an  onlor 
T  retreat,  and  the  result  was  a  complete  rout  and  a  disor- 
dei'ly  fli;^dit.  The  Indians,  now  eomjdetely  in  their  elo- 
nient,  fell  upon  the  helpless  stragglers  with  tomahawk  and 
knife.  About  fifty  of  the  Americans  are  said  to  havi' 
escajied  by  swimming  the  river,  or  by  clambering  the 
mountains,  and  concealing  themselves  in  the  forest:  the 
rest  all  })erished  n})on  the  field. 

!Most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley  sought  safety  fi-orn 
the  victorious  army  in  Hiiiht.  Those  who  remained  lie- 
took  themselves  to  Fort  Wyoming.  On  the  next  day,  -liiiy 
4th,  the  British  colonel  approached  the  fort,  and  demaiidiil 
an  unconditional  surrender.  A  ca})itulation  was  liiKiIly 
agreed  uj)on,  by  the  terms  of  which  the  occupiers  of  lands 
in  the  valley  were  to  be  protected  in  the  peaceable  eniDV- 
ment  of  their  property.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  and  the 
remnant  of  his  regulars  had  made  their  escape,  and  it  u;i.< 
agreed,  by  the  officer  remaining  in  command,  tliat  llie 
fort  should  be  demolished.  The  result,  however,  was  tlie 
almost  entire  destruction  of  the  settlement.  I'he  rapacitv 
of  the  undiscii)lined  Indian  forces,  tempted  by  the  djipMr- 
tunity  for  })lunder,  could  not  be  restrained;  and  the  Viwj- 
cherished  rancour  of  partisan  enmity  between  fellow-coun- 
trymen had  full  ojiportunity  to  satiate  itself. 

The  ri(di  and  hiuddv-cultivated  farms  were  lai<l  u'aste. 
and  their  unfortmiate  in-o^ndetors,  Hying  from  tludr  hnrn- 
ing  homes,  were  reduced  to  the  greatest  extremities.  Many 
are  said  to  have  perished  in  the  wilderness,  whitluM'  they 
had  lied  for  safety.  From  the  tales  of  the  wretcdied  out- 
casts who  were  dispersed  over  the  country,  as  puhlislied 
at  the  time,  many  incid(>nts  have  been  cojiied  into  modern 
histories,  which  we  know  to  be  false  or  grossly  exagger- 
ated. War  is  cverv  way  an  enormous  evil,  ami  whi'ii 
carried  on  by  an  ignorant  and  barbarous  people,  toVih'Ui 


THE   IROQUOIS,  OR  SIX  XATIONS. 


317 


the  rcfinoinciits  of  so-culled  civili/eil  wiu'fare  aro  unknown, 
must  necessarily  involve  scenes  of  terror  and  (lt>solation ; 
but  at  the  time  of  wliieli  we  arc  now  sjH'akinir,  tlie  ^LM-eat- 
cst  atrocities  appear  to  liavc  been  committed  bv  whites. 
AVe  will  give  a  single  int'ident  as  illustrative  of  the  spii'it 
of  the  times.  Several  of  the  loyalists  liad  pursued  some 
fugitives  of  the  provincial  militia  to  an  island  in  the  river. 
One  of  these  being  ferreted  out  from  his  j)lacc  of  conccal- 
iiiont,  recognized  his  own  brother  amr)ng  the  enemy,  an<l, 
falling  u})on  his  knees,  b(\gged  humbly  lor  his  life,  'i'ho 
greeting  and  res]ionse  of  the  unmitural  brother  ai-e  thus 
recorded:  "So  it  is  you,  is  it?" — "All  this  is  mighty  fine, 
but  you  arc  a  damned  rebel." — Saying  which,  he  delibcr- 
iitcly  levelled  his  rifle,  and  shot  him  dead  upon  tlie  spot," 
At  the  north.  Brant  and  his  Indians  continued  to  lu;  a 
source  of  terror  and  annoyance.  Besides  many  minor 
depredations,  they  burned  and  ])lundercd  the  rich  and 
thriving  settlement  of  the  Gei'inan  Flatts,  uj)on  the  uj>]icr 
waters  of  the  ^foliawk.  The  inhabitants  had  sufllcient 
notice  of  the  attack  to  be  able  to  secure  tliemselves  in  lhc 
ueiiiliboriuL!;  forts,  but  tliev  could  do  nothiu"'  to  ])rcs('i'vo 
*;lu'ir  homes,  or  to  save  the  fi'uits  of  a  summer's  toil  IVom 
plunder  or  dcstructi(jn.  This  injury  was  retaliated  by  the 
invasion  of  the  noted  establishmentsof  the  Indian  chief  at 
Oglikwaga  and  Unadilla.  A  })arty  of  friendly  Oneidas 
lent  themselves  to  this  service,  and  succeeded  in  briicrinLr 

7  III 

off  some  booty  and  prisoners.  A  moie  important  ininad 
was  made  by  Colonel  William  Butler,  with  a  Pennsylvania 
regitnent.  He  entered  the  towns  of  irnadilla  ami  Oghk- 
waga,  and,  finding  them  deserted  by  the  Indians,  buru'il 
and  destroyed  the  buildings,  together  with  large  stores  (;!' 
provision  intended  for  winter  use. 

The  Indians  were  greatly  exasjwrated  at  this  heavy  lo^^s, 
am)  it  was  not  difiicult  for  the  English  to  excite  them  to 
prompt  exertions  for  revenge.     The  Senecas  were-  discov- 


<l     ::n 


f    ^P'      \ 


It' 


-<;(":  u  ' 


1  . 


i.vl    ■ 


318 


INDLVN  IlACKri  OF  AMERICA. 


crcfl  to  be  ill  arms,  and  assuming  a  hostile  attitude  verv 
sliortly  after  these  events;  and  one  of  their  eliieC-*,  "T!ie 
Great  Tree,"  who  had  been  spending  the  summer  with  tlie 
Amerieans,  and  had  associated  during  that  time  uiion 
friendly  terms  with  General  Washington,  had  now  re- 
turned  to  his  peojjle  with  altered  demeanor  and  purposes. 
]ie}>ortshad  been  eirculated  among  the  Indians  of  this  unu 
other  tribes  that  the  Americans  were  planning  an  invasion 
of  their  country. 

Early  in  November,  (1778,)  the  younger  Butler,  Walter, 
led  a  force  of  seven  hundred  men  from  Niagara  to  attack 
the  settlement  at  Cherry-Valley.  The  majority  of  tlio 
l)arty  consisted  of  Indians  under  the  command  of  Tliayen- 
danegea.  The  place  of  their  destinaticui,  -  beautiful  aiul 
])rosperous  village,  not  far  from  Otsego  lake,  was  defended 
by  a  fortification  garrisoned  by  troops  under  Colonel  leh- 
abod  Alden.  The  commander  received  intimation,  fiem 
an  Oneida  messenger,  of  the  dangerous  jiosition  ;'f  the 
})lace,  but,  being  incredulous,  or  sui)posing  that  there  was 
abundance  of  time  for  preparation,  he  was  in  no  condition 
for  resistance  when  the  blow  fell.  The  inhabitants,  inst.'ad 
of  seeking  the  protection  of  the  fort,  were  scattered  amonr 
their  several  habitations. 

The  Indian  savages  made  the  first  onslaught,  and,  throw- 
ing aside  all  restraint,  massacred  men,  women  and  children 
indiscriminately.  Many  of  the  tories  belonging  to  the 
I)arty  are  said  to  have  shown  a  t;pir  of  ferocity  equal  to 
that  (jf  the  worst  of  barbarians.  The  officer  in  connnand. 
AValter  N.  Butler,  repeatedly  asserted,  in  after  coniniuni- 
cations,  that  he  used  his  best  endeavors  to  stay  the  dcstri'..-- 
non  of  the  heloless  clnldren  and  females,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  but  that  Brant's  inclinatiotis  turned  in  the  same 
direction.  Siieeillc  instances  arc  reported  in  which  tliC 
Mohawk  chief  interfered,  and  successfully,  to  arrest  the 
murderous  tomahawk.     According  to  their  account,  the 


THE   IKOQUOIS,  OR  SIX  NATIONS. 


010 


Iiulimis  were  ex;is})erate(I  at  their  losses  at  Oghkwaga 
and  Uiuulilla,  and,  becoming  heated  with  the  excitement 
of  the  attack,  were  in  com})lete  disorder,  and  in  no  dejjrec 
amenable  to  discipline.  Wlunvver  the  blame  lav,  tlie 
rrsiilt  was  terrible:  about  fifty  soldiers  and  inhabitants 
loll  by  the  tomahawk,  among  the  latter  of  whom  the  lai-gc'r 
jiortion  consisted  of  women  and  children.  'I'he  whoU- 
village  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and  the  rich  stoi'i's  of 
provisions  were  destroyed.  ^J'hirty  or  forty  prisoners  were 
taken,  but  of  these,  the  women  and  ehiklren,  with  a  lev,' 
excejitions,  were  shortly  after  set  at  liberty,  as  unable  to 
endure  the  march. 

Mrs.  Campbell,  one  of  those  who  was  retained  as  a 
hostage,  because  of  the  prominent  part  taken  by  her  hns- 
haud  in  the  American  cause,  has  u'iven  vei'v  interesting 
descriptions  of  Indian  ceremonies  and  manner  of  life. 

Tlie  Onondagas,  throughout  these  camjiaigns,  Mhile,  as 
a  tribe,  they  did  not  oj)enly  ])rofess  themselves  inimieal  to 
the  Americans,  were  individually  coneei-iied  in  no  small 
iiundter  of  tlie  forays  and  scalping  expeditions  whereby 
the  boi'der  country  was  harassed.  In  Ajtril,  of  177'.',  it 
was  determined  to  dt'str(»y  their  settk'meiits,  and  Colonel 
A'aii  Sehaick,  with  a  sunicient  f»ree,  was  despatched  ior 
the  purpose,  lie  was  ordered  utterly  to  lay  waste  the 
whole  of  their  towns;  to  destroy  all  their  cattle  and  pio- 
)ierty;  and  to  take  as  many  ])risoners  as  jiossible.  lie 
did  not  succeed  in  sur|)rising  the  Indians,  as  he  had  juir- 
}H)sed:  their  scouts  carried  intelligt'iice  of  his  advaiK'c  in 
sca-^on  for  most  of  them  to  esea})e  to  the  woods;  but  thrir 
iinprovcments  and  dwellings  were  left  undefended,  at  the 
laercyof  the  assailants,  ^.fhe  eolomd  obeyed  his  oi'ders  to 
the  letter,  and  left  nothing  but  blacd^ened  ruins  l.iehind 
him  in  his  progress  through  the  Indian  villages.  The 
dwellings,  the  horses,  cattle,  and  stored  ])rovisions  of  the 
unfortunate  tribe  were  all  destro\ed,  and  the  Americans 


'51  i 


i 


W-  ^i* 


:i 


H 


k 


V,    : 


l}imm?j 


m\T 


fj'  i'Ti!  .     '■ 


sir.'  ' 


•I'l' 


V    f 


320 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKKU'A. 


I'ctnnicd  to  their  ({nartcrs,  \vitliout  iIk;  Ljss  of  a  man, 
taking  witli  tliem  tliirtv-tlirei!  pi-isoiiofs.  About  twelve 
of  the  Onoiidagas  were  kilk'(l  diii'lii^  the  oxpcilitioii.  i 

Tlio  fru. M(ll_y  Oiu-iikis  wei'c  ck)scly  coinu'ctod  witli  this 
trilti',  and  IIh'V  felt  and  r.xpi'i's.scd  a  natural  synipatliv  witli 
llicii'  misroi'tunes.  The;  On'.)ii(hi,<j,'as  were  ,L,n-eatly  L'\a>|ifi'- 
alt'd,  and  tlieir  war-]>artics  continncMl  to  hover  around  tlio 
border  settlements,  ever  ivady  to  take  advantage  of  aiiv 
unwarincss  on  the  jjart  of  the  whites.  ! 

In  the  mouths  of  duly  and  August,  of  this  year,  (177!'.') 

]>raiit  signalized  hinisell'by  various  sueeessful  ex])editi(ins, 

Jle  ])lundered  and  destroy(>d  the  little  town  of  Mini>iiik, 

near  the  Delaware  river,  in  Orange  county,  Xew  "^  ork,  iukI 

defeated  a  body  of  the  militia  who  undertook  to  folk^w  liis  : 

trail,  iu  hoju's  of  reeovering  the  booty  he  had  seeuivil,   ! 

and  of  avenging  the  ruin  he  had  eaused.     Some  interestiiii;    ' 

incidents  are  ree(;rded  as  eonnected  with  this  battle.    So 

skillfully  did  the  Mohawk  chief  antieipatc  and  o]i))o.se  the 

movements  of  his  i)ui'suei's,  that  he  secured  an  advaiit;iL;'e   i 

.  .  .  '      1 

in  j)ositioii  which  gave  him  a,   signal  victory.     A   laijjio   \ 

])roportion  of  the  whites  were  slain.     We  are  told  tlmt,    | 

after  the  battle,  Brant  saw  a  wounded  olVicer  ]\\u'j:  uiioii 

the  field,  in  a  ho{)elcss  I'ondition,  but  retaining  suHicicnt 

strength  to  converse.     Unwilling  to  leave  the  unfortunate   , 

man  to  be  torn  in  piee(>s  by  wolves,  wdio  would  be  sure  In 

collect  as  night  canu;  on,  he  deternnned,  from  motives  ol 

humanity,  to  dis))atch  him.      He  therefore  commenreil  a 

conversation   with    hin".,   and,  watching    his    o])])ortuiiity, 

]Hit  an  end  to  his  sufferings  unawares,  by  a  blow  of  the 

tomahawdc. 

On  this,  as  on  most  other  occasions  in  which  the  Mo- 

liawdc   chief  was  engaged   in   active  hostilities,  the  luoi^t 

contradictory  re})orts  have  been  recorded  concerning  liis 

coTuluct  and  demeanor.     The  leader  is  generally  conipelloil 

to  bear  the  blame  of  all  the  exc«'sses  committed  bv  liis 


TI!K  llIOQroI?,  OK  SIX   XATIONS. 


followers,  and  it  is  no  oasy  task,  at  this  distanoo  of  time, 
to  decide  npori  the  truth  of  many  tales  reported  under 
circuinstarces  oT  confusion  and  excitement. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

GENERAL    SULLIVAn's   CAMPAIGN    AGAINST   THE    IROQUOIS — 
SU15SKQIJENT  WARMKE  OPERATIONS  OF  THE    NATION. 

While  the  events  which  we  have  just  described  were 
transpiring,  preparations  were  going  on  for  a  more  formid- 
able invasion  of  the  Indian  territorv  than  had  before  been 
attern])tod  by  the  Americans.  '^I'hc  annoyance  of  an  un- 
certain border  warfare  had  become  so  intolerable  that  it 
was  deemed  necessary  to  put  a  stop  to  it  by  the  entire 
ilcstniction  of  the  Iroquois  towns  and  settlements.  In 
pursuance  of  a  resolution  of  Congi'(\'Js,  the  commandor-in- 
cliief,  General  Washington,  made;  arrangements,  in  the 
spring  of  1779,  to  send  a  large  force  into  the  heait  of  tlic 
enemies'  country,  with  directions  to  burn  and  desli-oy  all 
their  towns;  lo  lay  waste  their  fields  and  orchards,  to  take 
:is  many  prisoners  as  practicable;  and,  in  a  word,  to  do 
the  enemy  all  the  injury  ])ossible.  '^I'he  command  of  the 
expedition  was  bestowed  upon  General  Sullivan,  who  was 
directed  to  ascend  the  Sus(]uehaiina,  with  troops  ^h^n 
IVnnsylvania,  and  to  form  a  junction  with  the  noi'tluM-n 
fnrces  at  Tioga,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chemung.  '^I'Ik! 
detachment  from  the  north,  under  General  Clinton,  (•on- 
sisting  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  marched  from  Caiiajoharie, 
<^n  the  Mohawk,  for  Otsego  Lake,  (from  which  flows  tin; 
Siis([uehanna)  about  the  michlle  of  dune,  'i'hey  carried 
with  them,  over-land,  two  hundred  batteaux,  in  which  to 
descend  the  river  to  Tioga. 
21 


I    ; 


li 


.^1  ' 


r*- 


322 


1"] 


INDIAN'    ICACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


It  was  intended  tluit  Clinton  should  take  \v\i\i  lijin  g 
body  of  Oneida  warriors,  but  tliis  ])urj)0.so-was  frustrated 
by  the  clforts  of  Genci-al  ilaldimand,  on  bdialf  of  the  king 
of  Great  Britain,  This  oHieer  sent  a  letter,  written  in  their 
own  tongue,  to  tlie  Oncidas,  U|)braiding  tiieni  with  the 
breaeli  of  aneient  treaties,  and  '.hreatening,  if  tliey  juv 
sumed  to  engage  in  open  warfare  against  tlie  royalists,  to 
let  lo  >se  njjon  them  siieh  a  horde  cjf  his  Indian  allies  ;i.s 
■])'      J    utterly  destroy  them.     The  ell'eet  of  this  e])isllc 

,!  ,  ^'eep  the  Oneida  warriors,  with  very  few  exeeplions, 
.'(  m.  that  they  might  be  in  readiness  to  guard  their 
families  m.-^  homesteads  from  the  threatened  inviusion. 

Owirig  to  dehiys  at  the  south,  Clinton  did  not  reeeivc 
orders  to  remove  from  Otsego  until  August,  lie  had,  in  the 
mean  time,  dammed  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  so  that  a  great 
body  of  water  had  aceumulated.  When  his  troojis  were 
embarked,  the  obstruction  was  removed,  and,  aided  hy 
the  unusual  flow,  the  flotilla  swept  rapidly  and  snioothl)' 
down  the  stream.  On  the  22d  of  August  the  meeting;  at 
Tioga  wiis  efieeted.  Five  thousand  men,  well  armed  aii'l 
provisioned,  were  now  eoneeutrated,  and  ready  to  {miir 
upon  the  devoted  towns  of  tiie  hostile  Iroquois. 

The  attempt  to  keep  the  expedition  a  seei'et  from  tlie 
enemy  would  have  been  utterly-  useless,  from  the  leii-jili 
of  time  required  for  the  })reparatory  movements.  The 
eam})aign  was  antieipated,  but  no  adecpiate  force  was  \'Yo- 
vid(!d  to  resist  the  American  army.  The  only  battle  whieli 
took  place  was  at  Newtown  on  the  bank  of  the  CheniuiiL'-, 
near  the  present  town  of  Elmira.  Here  a  force,  variuusiy 
estimated  at  from  eight  to  fifteen  hundred,  and  eoiisistiii!.' 
of  Indians  under  Thaycndanegea,  and  whites  comniaii(le'l 
by  the  two  Butlers,  and  by  Sir  John  and  Guy  Johnson, 
was  advantageously  intrencheil. 

A  brave  and  obstinate  resistance  Avas  made  to  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Americans,  but  superior  numbers  previiiled, 


TIIK  IIJOQUOIS,  on  SIX  NATIONS. 


323 


und  the  oiiemy  \v;us  driven  iicross  the  river,  after  ^ufTering 
considerable  loss.  This  was  tiie  otdy  attempt  of  any  im- 
portance that  was  made  to  defend  the  country  from  ravage 
and  destruction.  Pursuing  his  course  westward,  General 
Sullivan  obeyed  his  orders  to  the  letter.  Every  where 
tliiMvell-built  towns  and  flourishing  corn-fields  of  the  con- 
foileratc  nations  were  reduced  to  utter  ruin.  Those  Indian 
tribes  had  n^.adc  nc  little  advance  in  the  arts  of  civili/a- 
tion.  The  ^[chawks  had  mostly  fled  to  Canada  in  the  early 
times  of  the  revolution,  but  others  of  the  Iroquois,  ]iar- 
ticularly  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  had  continued  to  culti- 
vate their  fields  and  maintain  possession  of  the  ho"  -^  ^ 
tlicir  forefathers.  Immense  orchards  of  apple  ant  oi]r 
fruit-trees  were  growing  luxuriantl}^  around  thci'  .  bii.;- 
tioiis,  but  all  fell  beneath  the  axe  of  the  destro}  .  a  ho 
movement  of  so  large  a  body  of  troops  was  neccL.arily 
slow,  and  as  no  precautions  were  taken  to  c(  .  m^  their 
tperations,  the  Indians  were  every  where  enabled  to  cscaj)e 
to  the  woods.  It  must  ha  ve  been  with  feelings  of  the  bitter- 
est rage  and  despair  that  thev  saw  the  labor  of  so  man v  vears 
rendered  useless,  and  thought  of  the  coming  winter,  Avhich 
must  overtake  them,  a  wandering  and  destitute  peo{)lc', 
who  must  perish,  or  rely  for  aid  upon  their  Canadian  allies. 
The  whole  month  of  September  was  spent  in  the  Avork 
of  destruction,  '^i'hc  course  of  the  march,  after  the  battle 
I'f  Xewtown,  was  first  to  Catharine's  Town,  near  the  head 
of  Seneca  lake;  thence  to  Kanaihiscagoa,  the  principal 
town  of  the  Senecas;  to  Canandagua;  and  to  (jcncsec, 
whieh  was  the  farthest  point  reached  at  the  westward. 
I'loin  Sullivan's  account:  "The  town  of  Genesee  con- 
tained one  hundred  and  twent}- .  ight  houses,  mostly  large 
ar.d  very  elegant.  It  was  beautifully  situated,  almost  en- 
circled with  a  clear  flatt  extending  a  number  of  miles; 
over  which,  extensive  fields  of  corn  Avcrc  waving,  together 
will)  every  kind  of  vegetable  that  could  be  conceived." 


i    1 ! 


41- 


I 


i  Ki 


U  ■     I  1' 


\,^:ili 


■1)     I 


1         ) 


•Ji'J 


■  P%1 


82A 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKllICA. 


"Tho  entire  army,"  says  Stone,  "was  immediutcivcn- 
gagrd  in  destroying  it,  and  tlie  axo  and  the  torch  soon 
transformed  the  whole  of  tliat  beautiful  region  from  (lie 
ehai'aet(^r  of  a  garden  to  a  scene  of  drear  atid  siekcninc 
desohition.  l''orty  In<lian  towns  were  destroyed.  Corn 
gathered  and  ungathercd,  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  thousand  busliels,  sliared  the  same  fate;  tlieir 
fruit-trees  were  cut  down;  and  the  Indians  were  hunted 
like  wild  beasts,  till  neither  house,  nor  fruit-tree,  nor  iw\>] 
of  eorn,  nor  inhabitant,  remained  in  the  whole  country."' 

In  a  suffering  and  destitute  condition,  the  scattered  tribes 
of  the  Iroquois  were  driven  to  seek  p^jtcetion  and  sup- 
port during  the  bard  winter  that  succeeded  tludr  overthrow 
from  the  English  at  their  posts  in  the  vicinity  of  Niagar.i. 
Nothing  could  now  be  exjiectefl  at  their  hands,  by  tlir 
Americans,  but  acts  of  vindictive  retaliation,  lirant  Itil 
his  warriors,  in  2)ursuanee  of  llaldimand's  ominous  predic- 
tion, against  the  settlements  of  the  Oneidas,  and  rcduccii 
them  to  a  condition  as  desidatc  as  that  of  the  habitations 
of  his  allies.  'J'he  whole  tribe  was  comp(dled  to  fly  to  tlu' 
eastward,  and  seek  shelter  and  support  from  th(»  j^rovimials. 

^rhayendanegea  wa,s  ever  ready  and  watchful  for  oppor- 
tunity to  harass  and  weaken  the  American  posts,  or  tn 
plunder  their  nnprotectml  villages.  Passing  over  his 
minor  ex])loits  and  adventures,  of  which  nu\ny  strikingly 
characteristic  anecdotes  arc  pnnservcd,  we  come  to  liis 
irru])tion  into  the  Mohawk  valley,  in  August  of  17^0. 
He  numaged,  at  this  time,  to  circulate  a  rej)ort  among  tin' 
setth'rs  in  the  valley,  that  he  was  meditating  an  att;ifk 
u})on  P'orts  Plain  and  Schuyler,  for  the  pur})ose  of  gcttiu.u' 
possession  of  the  stores  collected  at  those  posts.  The  mil- 
itia of  the  valley  hastened  to  defend  the  threatened  points, 
leaving  their  villages  a  J^rey  to  the  cunning  ^^ohawk.  He 
carefully  avoided  the  reinforcements  ou  their  way  to  the 
forts,  and  fell  upon  Canajoharie. 


THE  lUOyCOlS,  OK  .SIX  natioxh. 


826 


nis  C()ni*sc  was  iriarkod  by  the  t'liliro  dcstiuction  of 
liouscH,  jtrovisions,  und  crops;  of  every  thing  indeed  that 
could  not  be  {irofitably  carried  away.  No  barbarities  were 
pcniiittcd  upon  the  persons  of  the  (U'fenceless  women  and 
chiKhen,  but  a  hirgi;  nunilier  of  tliem  were  borne  away 
into  captivity.  lirant  etl'ecti'd  liis  retreat  unmolested; 
his  men  laden  with  plunder,  and  driving  before  them  the 
valuable  herds  of  the  white  settlers.  Accounts,  ])ublislie(l 
.shortly  after  the  transaction,  represent  that  the  whole  num- 
i)cr  of  houses  and  barns  burnt  in  this  invasion,  at  Cana- 
jdharie,  Schoharie,  and  Norman's  Kill,  was  one  liundrcd 
aiul  forty;  and  that  tv/enty-four  persons  were  killed,  and 
sovetity-thiee  made  caj)tives.  I'he  mind  is  little  impri'ss- 
('(1  hv  such  bare  eimmcration,  unless  the  ima^LM nation  be 
excited  to  fill  up  the  outline.  No  language  could  express 
the  amount  of  misery  and  toi'ribl(>  anxiety  which  such  an 
iiirond  must  have  caused.  To  the  distracting  uncertainty 
respecting  the  fate  of  their  wives  and  children,  prisoners 
ill  the  hands  c)f  a  barbarous  and  exasperated  enemy,  was 
athlcd  the  mortification  of  a  consciousness,  on  the  part  of 
the  provincial  militia,  that  they  had  been  duj)ed.  'I'hcy 
had  left  their  defenceless  homes  to  be  ravaged  ]»y  the 
eiiemv,  while  thev  were  busvintr  thcm.selves  in  th(>  defence 
(if  a  fv)rtilied  }iost,  against  which  no  attack  had  been 
meditated. 

The  invasion  of  the  ^fohawk  valley  by  Sir  John  John- 
son, in  October  of  this  year  (178()\  was  productive  of 
results  still  more  cxtcnsivtdy  disasti-ous.  'i'he  Indians 
connected  with  the  expedition  were  led  by  Ibaiit,  and  bv 
the  great  Seneca  warrior,  CorndMaiiter.  ^IMiis  (diief  was  a 
halfd)r(»ed,  being  a  son  of  a  white  trader,  named  O'Hail, 
and  a  Seneca  squaw.  During  this  campaign,  he  took 
old  O'Bail  pri.soner.  ^faking  himself  known  to  his  father, 
Corn-Planter  enlarged  upon  liis  own  position  and  conse- 
quence, offering  the  old  man  his  choice,  whether  he  would 


i^  il; 


''i 


mm 


4 


M  h 


It    ' 


i! 


rt J  ■ '  .-I 


820 


INDIAN  n^cl•:^  ok  amkimiia. 


live  in  cnso  iiiid  plenty  among  his  son's  followors,  or  return 
to  the  sfUlcinrnts  of  tlio  wliitcs.  ()'Hail  |irii,  itmI  iIkj 
latter  couix',  and  was  cscitrfiMl  accordingly  to  a  iilarcof 
Hality.  \Vc  .sliall  s|)i>ak  further  ol'  this  nottnl  warrior  in 
descriliing  his.siicccssl'nl  rival,  the  givat  orator  licd-J.-icki't. 

The  usual  horrors  attendant  upon  Indian  wartiire  niurkiij 
this  eaiiiii;iign  of  .I'>hnson'.s;  hut  wi;  an;  not  without  ,-\\. 
dence  that  the  principal  linider  ot"  tho  savages  was  iucliucil 
to  no  cruelty  liirthcr  than  that  necessarily  ineidmt  to  tho 
Jndian  mode  of  eoJiducting  hostilities.  On  one  oeiMsion 
In;  sent  one  of  his  runners  to  return  a  young  infant  t!iat 
had  been  carj'icd  oil'  with  other  captives  and  phnidir. 
Hie  niess(Miger  delivered  u  letter  from  Hrant,  direete(l  "to 
the  ccainnanding  oll'icer  of  the  rebel  army,"  in  which  tin' 
-Nrohawk  chief  avers  that  "whatever  others  might  do."  hu 
madt!  no  war  upon  women  and  ciiildren.  lie  nientioiicil 
the  two  Butlers,  and  othci-  tory  j)artisans,  as  being  ''nioro 
savage  than  the  savage's  themselves." 

The  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  engaged  in  the  roval 
cause,  made  Niagara  their  winter  head-rpiarters.  Thmco 
their  scouts  and  war-j)arties  continued  to  molest  tho  lor- 
der  country  through  tlu.i  ensuing  spring  ami  sununei',  hut 
no  very  important  engagement  took  })lace  until  (X'tohcr 
(ITbl).  On  the  24th  of  that  month,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country  scnith  of  the  Mohawk,  near  the  mouth  of  Scho- 
harie creek,  were  astonished  by  the  unexpected  inroad  of 
an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy.  The  army,  uikI'T 
the  command  of  Major  Koss,  amounted  to  nearly  a  thou- 
sand men,  including  Indiana.  They  had  made  their  way 
from  Buck's  Island,  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  Oswego,  ami 
thence,  by  Oneida  lake,  to  the  Mohawk  valley,  so  sud- 
denly and  secretly,  that  no  news  of  their  aj)j)roach  had 
preceded  them. 

The  invaders  commenced  the  usual  course  of  ravairo 
and  destruction,  but  their  success  was  but  of  short  duni- 


^-'4 


'"1! 


Tin:    lUOyi'OIsi    OH  six  N'ATIONrt. 


lion.  Tlif'V  wcrn  dii^astrously  rontcl  iunl  put  to  fliiflit  by 
tin-  'jToviiicials,  under  Colonel  Willct,  aidod  by  a  body  '^f 
Oneida  warriors.  Tlio  notorious  Walter  N.  Hutlcr  jx-r- 
islu'd  durin;^  tho  last  etiiraffenKuit  with  the  Americans, 
lie  was  shot  and  scalped  by  an  Oneida  T'ldiau. 

Tliis  was  the  last  important  procedure  connected  with 
the  war  of  the  revolution,  in  which  the  Troquois  l)ore  a 
part.  They  proved,  throughout  tlu;  contest,  most  dan^'er- 
oua  and  eflicient  allies,  renderinu^  an  immense  extent  of  tho 
richest  and  most  beautifid  portion  of  tiic  state  of  New 
York  unsafe  for  the  Americans. 


CIIAPTKU  VII. 

CONDITION    OK    THK    SIX    NATIONS    SIJHSEQUKNT   TO    THE 

RKVOLUTIO.V CONCLUSION  OK   UIUNT's    HISTORV — 

HKD-JACKKT  AND  COKN-I'I.AN  riiK. 

After  the  conclusion  of  jteace  and  th(.^  recoi^Miitioii  of 
the  independence  of  the  United  States,  arrangements  were 
made  between  the  British  frovcrnmcnt  and  those  of  the 
Six  Nations  who  still  wIsIumI  to  reside  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  ])arent  country,  to  secure  them  an  a.sylum  in 
Canada.  .  Thayendanegca  was  the  princi]>al  negotiator  on 
the  part  of  the  Tndirinr?,  and,  at  his  instance,  ihe  comitry 
hordering  on  Grand  Kiver,  which  emj^ties  into  Lake  Krie, 
all! lilt  thirtv  miles  westward  from  Hullalo,  was  granted  In' 
tiic  crown  to  "th.a  Mohawks,  and  others  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions, who  had  cither  lost  their  })ossessions  in  the  war,  or 
\vish(>d  o  retire  from  them  to  the  British."  They  were  to 
he  secured  in  the  possession  of  a  tract  extending  six  miles 
in  breadth,  on  each  side  of  the  river,  from  its  mouth  to 
its  source. 

The  course  to  be  taken  by  the  United  States  respecting 


i'll-,"N 


,!■' 


^.I'i 


y\^i 


'!' 


pm  'M 


328 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tlic  Troquois  resident  within  their  limits,  was  a  suujcct 
which  led  to  nmch  diseiissiou  and  dissension.  A  eonf'crcnce 
was  liiially  held  at  Fort  Stanwix,  between  d(;j)Ulies  fioni  all 
th(!  six  tribes  and  Tnited  States  eoinmissioners;  and,  after 
miieh  \i()lcnt  dfbate,  in  whieh  the  eelebrated  Kt'd-dackit 
took  a  ])ronuiient  oa't,  ii  was  settled  that  the  Indians  shmiM 
eedc  to  the  government  all  jurisdiction  over  lands  in  ca.-t- 
ern  New  York,  and  eoniine  thenistdvcs  to  a  district  siuviiicil 
at  the  west.  AH  prisoners  wt're  to  be  delivered  u]i,  wvA 
sever, .1  hostages  wt^re  given  to  S(>enre  jjerfornianeo  ol'  lluir 
stijuilatioiis  on  the  ])art  of  the  Six  Nations. 

^^anJ  of  the  Indians  were  greatly  dissatisfied  with  tliis 
treaty.  lied-.Jaeket  (in  opjxjsitioii  to  Coi'n-I'lantei)  stiru- 
iionsly  advocated  a  continnance  ol'  iioslilities.  His  sin'^rh 
at  Fort 'Stanwix  upon  tlu>  sul>ject  gained  him  a  wide  ii  pa- 
tation  for  oi'atory.  i'raiit,  who  was  then  about,  stai'lin" 
for  Fngland  to  pus''  the  claims  of  his  trib(>  J'or  ivmuneia- 
tion  for  their  losses  in  the  wai-,  post])oned  his  cmbarkali'iii 
and  wi'ote  a  lelt<'r  of  remonstrance  to  ( 'olonel  Monroe.  ii.;.i. 
])laining  especially  of  the  rrteiilion  of  one  of  iiis  ivlativos 
a  Captain  Aaron  Hill,  as  one  ol'  the  hostages. 

'J'he  Nbihawk-  clii(>('did  not  lay  aside  his  jmrjtose  of  visit 
ing  the  royal  court  in  his  j)eoj)le's  behalf,  lie  ari-ivd  in 
England  in  the  month  of  December,  17^o,  and  never  was 
ambassador  received  with  nioic  llatt<'ring  attention.  His 
intelligence  and  dignity,  togrther  with  the  ivmemb)'a;;ee  ,,[' 
his  long  and  f^iilhfid  s<M'vices,  ,.omin<Mided  him  t(.'all.  Mo 
Avas  f'ted  by  the  nobility  and  gentry;  his  ac([uaint,nn'C 
was  sonirht  bv  tlie  most  learned  and  t'elebrated  diM-nitaiies 
of  the  age;  and  the  nativ(>  shrewdness  eviiKcd  in  liis 
speech(\s  and  remarks  drew  fortii  universal  applau.-^e.  His 
atteni[)t  to  awaken  an  interest  at  court,  in  favor  iA'  tlio 
-ilaims  of  his  nation,  was  snceessful ;  and  a  royal  order  was 
obtained  for  the  indemnity  of  those  whose  losses  had  Ixeii 
spceilied,  and  f)r  an  examination  of  further  demanils. 


J 


TIIK  IROQUOIS,  Oil  SIX  NAllONS 


o29 


III  tlic  UuiU'd  States,  Tndiaii  aHaii-.s  continui'd  unsettled, 
and  ominous  j)n)sj)eets()r  Cuture  disturbanec  on  the  western 
fi'iMitier  called  for  wise  ami  eautious  action.  A  m'eat 
council  was  held  in  Pcceiidier,  17^1),  by  many  ti-ihes  of 
Indians,  annni^^  whom  the  Six  Xalions  wei'c  the  most 
[ininiincnt,  at  Huron  villa^uc,  not  far  tVom  the  mouth  of 
iH'troit  river.  The  ohj''ft  was  to  eimcert  some  <^n'nei'al 
plan  of  resistance  to  encniaehmeiits  njion  their  lands  hv 
the  inliahitants  of  the  I'liited  States.  It  is  .<aid  that  an 
unfriendly  feeliuL,^  towards  tin'  new  government  was  pro- 
moted hy  Knglish  ollieials  in  theii'  commuiMcations  with 
the  Indians,  in  reference.'  to  (Ik;  retention,  hv  the  crown, 
(if  Osweiro,  Detroit,  Niai;ara,  and  othif  posts. 

Vur  many  years,  suhsecinent  to  the  jH-ace  with  Miiuiand, 
hleody  skirmishes,  and  scenes  of  plunder  and  rapine,  kept 
the  \vcstern  liorder  in  continual  distre.^s;  and  when  the 
I'nited  States  undertook  the  n •duet ion  of  tin-  hostile  tribes 
in  17!")  and  IM,  it  was  found  that  the  (rcjiim- of  disalVec- 
ti(>ii  on  the  part  of  tlii'  red  men  was  indeed  extensive, 
rpen  the  occasion  of  St.  flair's  disa.-trous  def  at  b\-  ilie 
Miainis  and  their  associates,  under  the  renowned  ehief, 
Little  TiM'tle,  it  is  asserteil  liy  tlie  liioui'apner  of  Jh'ant  that 
the  elil  Mohawk  warrior  and  the  warlike  tribe  to  which  ho 
lK'i<)nL''ed  bort;  a  conspicuous  jiart. 

No  man,  born  of  a  sava;.:e  slock,  has  ev(U"  a.^^sociated 
wit'a  the  enlightened  and  intt'llip-nt  u]iou  terms  of  greater 
('4Uality  tli;u)  did  'riiayendancLiva.  While  he  retaiiicd  all 
his  partiality  for  his  own  people,  and  never  lost  siuht  of 
their  interests,  h(>  fidly  appreciati'd  the  advantaL;'es  of  edu- 
cation an(l  civili/ation.  A  lon;j-  lile,  spent  for  the  mo.-;t 
part  amid  sciuies  of  strife  aii<l  dauLier,  in  which  the  w  liolc 
Jiowers  ol  his  active  mind  and  bod\-  se<'med  callc(|  lorth 
ly  the  stilling  scenes  in  whii'h  he  mingliMl,  did  iioi  unfit 
him  ftr  tlu^  juirsnits  of  literature  and  the  arts  of  jieace. 
lie  Was  indefatieable  in  his  eiuleavors  to  clc\  ate  the  .'■     :  d 


I 


■' 


il 


#1 


'  ( 


i 


t>.. 


K  , 


I, 


■,l 


M 


¥S\ 


INDIAN  RACES  OP^  AMElilC  \. 


])()siti()ii  of  liis  tril)0,  and  dovotcil  no  little  time  and  attcn 
tion  to  tlio  translation  of  st-riptural  and  other  works  into 
the  ^fohawk  ton<^Ma',  for  their  lirncfit.  His  earlii  r  ^pcci. 
mens  of  eom})osition,  whirh  ]\nvv  Ixmmi  ])resei'ved,  air.  as 
might  be  cx[)eeted,  rudely  and  iinjieifeetly  expressed,  ])iit 
they  evinee  great  shi-ewdness  and  intelligiMiee.  The  inu- 
due^ions  of  his  latter  yeai's  are  strikingly  foreible  ana 
elegant. 

We  eannot  go  into  a  detail  of  the  tedioir-  and  seine- 
wliat  obseure  nt\u-oti;iti()ns  with  the  Ainerie,;i,  governmeiit 
in  whieh  the  ehief  of  the;  Six  Nations  too'c  jtart  in  licjiulf 
of  his  ])e()i)le,  nor  clironiele  the  events  of  private  inlrnst 
and  domestie  troubles  whieh  disturbed  his  deelining  vears. 
The  old  warrior  died  in  Novend)er,  1.^07,  at  the  a-e  of 
sixty -four. 

In  the  war  of  18l!2,  the  ^[oha\vks,  under  Jolm  Hrant, 
son  and  suecessor  of  Thayendanegea,  took  the  jiart  oftlnir 
old  friends  and  allies,  tla;  I'inglish,  and  did  good  service 
in  various  engagements  upon  th(>  noithern  frontier. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  eeiiturv,  Irw  n;niiis 
stand  more  ])ronnnent  in  Indian  annals  than  that  of  tht' 
Seneea  ehief  and  oratoi-,  Saguoaha,  or  Hed-.Iaekef.  W'r 
hear  of  him,  indeed,  in  much  (>arlier  times,  as  oppo-cd  h, 
Jirant,  at  the  time  of  Sullivan's  eanipaign.  The  .\hili;[\\k 
chief  always  regarded  him  with  contempt  and  di.-likr. 
speaking  of  him  as  an  ai-rant  eowai-d,  and  a  man  ofuoid.- 
nierely,  Saguoaha  lield  tlu,^  whites  gtmerallv  in  snspiriuii, 
and  \\\A  great  elfort  aj)pears  ever  to  hav.  been  (br  the  j>n- 
servation  of  his  nation's  inde])endenee  and  mdiviihialitv. 

We  have  already  mentioneil  thi>  j^art  which  he  todk  at 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  and  his  oj»position  to  tia 
cession  by  his  nation  of  their  (Cistern  lands.  C'ornd'lan'er. 
or  O'liail,  wlio  favored  the  }ii'oposal,  was  high  in  authority 
at  that  time  amonnr  the  Senecas:  but  I>e(l-.Iaekct,  more  hv 
his  eloquence  ami  sagacity  in  council  than  by  anv  warliko 


,r: 


>r-< 


THE  IROQUOIS,  OU  SIX  NATIONS. 


oo  I 


n(;liiev3inonts,  ^vas  gradually  sujiplautiiig  him.  Corii- 
PlaiittT  was  a  /ctcrau  wari'ior,  ami  lia<l  ionght  in  former 
times  agaiiKSt  the  Kuglish,  in  hehalf  of  the  French,  lie  is 
siiiil  to  have  been  attached  to  the  i'Veneh  and  Imlian  army, 
upon  the  occasion  of  15raddock's  di-feat,  in  17;');").  lie 
cuuM  ill  brook  the  rivaliy  of  a  young  man,  noted  ibr  no 
warlike  achievements,  and  only  })rominent  among  his 
|ieo|)lo  by  virtue  of  his  natural  gift  of  eloquence.  'J'o 
check,  therefore,  this  advance  of  the  young  oratoi',  ()'l?ail 
i'lidcavored  to  work  upon  the  creilulity  of  his  jicople  by 
aiiiionucing  his  brother  as  a  prophet,  and,  for  a  time,  suc- 
ctvilcd  in  exciting  their  reverence  and  supei'stitious  i'ears. 
Ivcil-.Facket,  however,  in  open  coimcil,  elocpiently  ])ro- 
claiiiK'd  him  an  impo.stor,  and  harangued  the  ti'ibt^  with 
sMi'li  power  and  efl'eet  jus  to  create  a  com}ilete  diversion  in 
Ills  own  favor.  He  was  chosen  chief  of  his  tribe,  and  ex- 
ercised, from  that  time  forth,  a  control  over  his  numerous 
I'ulhnvers  .seldom  sui])assed  by  any  Indian  ruler.  Jle  was 
a  steady  opposer  of  Christianiiy,  holding  the  missionaries 
win) endeavored  to  elleet  the  convci'sion  ofthe  Six  Nations, 
ii;  great  suspicion.  As  a  specimen  of  his  style  ol'iD'aory, 
we  will  giv"  some  extracts  of  Saguoaha's  speeches  upon 
tiicse  religions  (piestions,  as  they  are  to  be  Ibuiiil  in 
Tliati'her's  Iiwlian  l)iograj)hy.  It  must  lie  observed  that, 
.nil  characttM-istie  obstinacy,  the  .sj)eaker  would  ne\(.'r  use 
■'i''  Kiiglish  language,  but  communicated  his  icmaiks  b\' 
means  of  an  interpreter,  so  that  due  allowance  must  be 
iiukK'  for  the  change  in  style  ami  loss  of  force  ahiKJSt 
always  attendant  up(>n  a  translation. 

At  a  Seneca  council  in  May,  Isll,  held  at  Ihilfalo 
Creek,  he'  answei'ed  a  missionary  IVnm  New  ^'oik,  sub- 
stantially as  follows:  "lip.ther!  we  listene(l  to  the  talk 
you  delivered  us  from  the  Couiie'  ol' Jilaek-Co.its  in  New 
\{)vk.  We  hav''  I'ully  (■onsidereu  youi- talk,  and  the  oilers 
jou  have  made  ns.      We  now  r'inrn  vuv  answer,  whicli 


II 


t}y. 

If'. 


■<li 


ri'    :    ^' 


tl'^  i  i 


*|: 


r  i 


332 


INDIAN    RACKS   OF   AMEKk'A. 


we  wish  you  also  to  uiulcrsturul.  In  iniikiiig  nj»  our 
iiiiutls,  wc  have  looked  back  to  roincinber  wliat  has  btvu 
;loiic  ill  our  days,  and  what  our  lathers  have  told  us  was 
done  in  old  times. 

"brother! — Great  numbers  of  i^lack-Coats  lia\(  brua 
among  the  Fudians.  With  sweet  voices  and  siuiliiiL;  liuvs, 
they  oll'cred  to  teach  them  the  religion  of  the  white  pcdpltj. 
Our  bi'cthren  in  the  Kast  listened  to  them.  Tiny  tiu'iicd 
from  the  religion  of  theii'  fathers,  and  took  up  the  religion 
of  the  white  people.  What  good  has  it  done?  Aix;  tluv 
more  friendly  one  to  another  than  we  are?  Xo,  brntiicr! 
'i'he\'  are  a  divided  })e()plc;— we  are  united.  Tluy  ([Uarnl 
about  religion; — we  live  in  lov<;  and  IViemlship.  besides, 
they  drink  strong  waters.  And  they  have  learned  Ikav  U) 
cheat,  and  how  to  {)ractiee  all  the  other  vi':es  of  the  while 
people,  without  imitating  their  virtues.  ]}r'..^,l;',rI  -  If  vuii 
wish  us  well,  keep  away;  do  not  disturb'  us. 

"Brother! — We  do  not  worsiup  the  Ureat  i-^jfii-it  as  the 
Avhite  jH'ople  do,  but  wc  believe  tli.ut  the  fi-ins  of  woi>l.iii 
are  indillerent  to  the  Tireal  ^-'pirit.  I;  i,  he  homage  ef 
sincere  hearts  that  pleases  him,  ;)ne  ,vc  ■vsu:;hij'  hiui  in 
that  manner." 

After  are-' lug  the  nuitter  a  little  more  at  length,  and 
expressing  a  d'cid  !  jireferenee  for  the  "talk"  .if  Mr. 
Granger,  aii  Iiube.-!  a"<-  <;,  uud  for  that  'A  tlie  enns.saies 
of  tlu!  ^^oeiety  oi'  ''.'in.,-,  the  orator  eoiududed: 

"Brother!^ — l-'or  these  reasons  we  cannot  rcelNc  vi,iir 
ofl'ers.  ^Vehave  other  things  to  do,  and  beg  \oa  to  iiiak> 
your  luind  easy,  a  ithout  troubling  us,  li.'st  our  heads  should 
be  too  nnieh  loaded,  and  by  and  by  bui'st."'  Jved-daeiut 
remained,  through  life,  ceuisistcnt  with  the  ground  liist 
tidcen  by  h'm  upon  I'eligious  and  political  questions.  To 
the  elergy  he  was  ever  courteous  and  civil,  and  apj^ears 
to  have  been  I'cady  to  hold  argument  with  them  u|'nn 
dicir  creed,     lu  eonvei'sation  with  one  of  the  cloth,  he  is 


-J 


1 


,-<'iir 


mid 


ZH'Z^ 


THE   lUOQUOIS,  OK  SIX   NATK'NS. 


f>  O  1} 
L'oO 


Krt 

ll 

.r,<t 

|l 

'I'o   \ 

1 
1 

.ll'S     , 

1 

•nil 

1 

•  i-^ 

giiiil  to  liavc  strenuously  deiiicil  any  r(\s|)()n.sil/ility  on  the 
part  ot'  the  red  men  for  the  (U'atii  of  Clirist.  "IJnjther," 
said  he,  "if"  you  white  jieople  niunli-red  'the  Saviour,' 
make  it  nj)  yourselves.  We  had  nothing  to  do  with  it. 
If  lie  had  come  among  us,  we  should  have  treated  him 
l)ett(--." 

In  the  war  of  1812,  the  Seneea.s  espoused  the  iVmeriean 
interests,  and,  Grant's  assertions  to  the  eontrary  notwith- 
standing, their  cdiief,  with  his  suhordinates—  i''irn\er\s 
llrother,  T.ittle  liilly,  Pcdlard,  lilaek  Snake,  Young  O'l'.ail, 
(a  SDii  of  Corn-Planter,)  and  others — gained  honorahle 
notice  for  e(^urage  and  activity  IVoni  the  eominaiMling 
oficers  of  the  army  to  whi(di  tluy  were  altaelK  d.  It  i.s 
still  more  pleasing  to  reflect  that  these  Indians  readily  eon- 
furnicd  to  the  more  humane  usages  of  modern  warfare, 
(loneral  Boyd  rcportc.'d  that,  "the  hravciy  aiid  humanity 
of  the  Indians  were  e([ually  eonsj)ieuous." 

In  his  old  age,  Red-.Jaekct  became  very  intemperate, 
and  ill  so  many  instances  eondiieted  himsidf  in  a  manner 
unhccoiiiing  the  dignity  of  a  idiiel',  that  his  ojipoiients,  tiie 
Christian  portion  of  the  ti'ihe,  succeeded  in  passing  a  ivso- 
lutiiiii,  in  ctumcil,  for  his  de]"isition.  'Idiis  was  ellected  in 
Se]n('nd)er,  of  the  year  1827,  an«l  a  formal  wiitteii  pi'wela- 
matioii  of  the  eliarges  said  to  he  sidistantiated  against  him, 
wfi<  pi'oinulgated.  TIh!  old  ehitd'  inmiediutely  he.-tin'cd 
liinisclf  to  obtain  a  revoeation  of  this  (hn'ree.  liec.  -ed  a 
grar.d  council  ol'the  Six  Nations  to  he  liidd,  and,  w!  il  his 
forniiT  lire  and  energy,  made  answ  er  to  his  aeeusei  A  Iter 
enumerating  and  iddieuling  the  (diarges  against  In  (manv 
of  them  really  trilling,)  he  p'rocecded  to  speak  o,  uis  loiiu- 
continued  sei'vi('es  and  eaiv  for  his  ju'ople:  "  '  !'  el  sorrv 
for  my  nation,"  said  he;  "wdien  I  am  gone  t  t  le  other 
worlds, — when  tln>  Great  Sj)irit  calls  me  away,-  wiio 
among  my  j)eoj)le  ean  take  my  place?  Many  years  have 
I  guided  the  nation." 


L'; 


■     1*^ 


^^1 


■    P 


A       -! 

■k 


'-t^l 


!"!'■    "r, 


I' 

I 


Hr 

'■'■W 

PI 

ii 

^•"  IP 

If 

':W 

Jiii*'  ■'' 

if- 

M 

#''v 

'''i 

-■^ 


334 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


Tlic  cl()<iuoiicc  of  tlio  speaker,  iuul  !i  reinoin1)raiu'o  of 
liis  faillifiil  zeal  lor  the  welfare  of  his  trilx^,  produced  their 
(hu;  elleet :  lie  was  fully  restored  to  his  former  position  uiul 
authority.  During  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  llcd-.Iai'kct 
resided  at  the  Seneea  settlement,  in  tlie  vicinity  of  l)iin'a!ii. 
He  made  several  visits  to  the  Eastern  cities,  wlicrc  his  ap- 
{)earance  always  attracted  much  interest  and  atlrntioii. 
A  traveller  who  visited  the  Seneca  country  a  few  years 
Ix.'forc  the  death  of  the  old  chief  (which  took  j^laee  in 
January,  iSoO,)  speaks  of  his  residence  and  ajjitearaiiec  ja 
the  lollowing  terms:  "My  puth  grew  moi-e  and  nion.'  in- 
distinct, until  its  windings  were  only  intimated  ly  the 
smoothness  of  the  turf,  which  tjften  left  nu;  in  pei'plexitv. 
till  it  at  last  brought  me  to  the  view  of  the  ahodc  ol'  the 
chief,  lie  had  j)enetrated,  like  a  wiM  hcast,  into  the 
deepest  recesses  of  the  forest,  almost  Itcyond  tht^  [xiweruf 
a  wliite  man  to  trace  him.  A  wihl  beast!  but  1  foiunl  liiia 
in  a  calm,  contemj)lative  mood,  and  surrounded  by  a  elieer- 
ful  family.  Old  aiitl  young,  collec^ted  about  the  d(.(irnf 
the  log  hut  where  "i  '^  was  seated,  sccmetl  to  I'l'ganl  liiai 
v>ith  allection;  and  an  infant,  which  one  of  the  fcmans 
held  in  her  arms,  received  his  caresses  wilii  smiles.  It 
was  a  striking  scene — a  chief!  Yet  some  of  his  infeii  irs. 
who  cultivate  the  soil  in  other  parts  of  the  Seneca  lauds. 
had  abundant  fields  and  well-lill(!d  store-houses,  while  he 
was  poor,  but  boi'c  his  privations  with  appar<Mit  eipiaiiii!)- 
ity.  If  he  had  power,  he  did  not  exert  it;  if  he  had  jiassioiis, 
they  were  (piicscent;  if  he  liad  suH'ered  injuries,  tin  y  were 
burled  in  his  breast. — His  looks,  his  motions,  his  attitudes, 
had  that  cast  of  superiority  which  convinced  me  that. 
whether  justly  or  not,  lie  considered  no  man  his  superior 
in  understanding. — He  a)>peared  to  regard  himself  as  the 
only  one  of  his  nation  who  retained  the  feelings  and  opiu 
ions  of  his  ancestors,  and  to  ])rid(!  hims<'lf  in  ]irescrviii:z 
them."     nalleck's  address  to  "lied-Jackct,  on  looking  at 


^•-;.''v 


TIIK  UiUQUUlS,  UK  SIX  NATMNS 


'>  o  r. 


his  portrait,  ])}' "Wicr,"  altliouLfli  not  in  all  rcspoots  strictly 
Rccoi'tlaiit  with  facts,  contains  a  licanlil'ul  suininary  of  In* 
(linn  «]Kiracteristics,     '.riic  })()LMn  coiicludcs  as  follows: 

"TIio  nioimrcli  iiiiml,  llu-  mystery  of  cniiiiiiamlinp, 
Tli;-  liirtli-lionr  j,fii't.  the  art  \;i|ii.lcciii, 
or  \iinniiiLf,  t'cttcrini:,  niitiililiiiy,  wirldini.',  liaiuling 
'i'lui  lu'iirts  (4'  inillidiis,  till  tlicy  mnvc  as  onts 

TIkiu  Ii:i-(  it.     At  thy  liiddinir  me;!  have  crowded 
The  roj.d  to  di-ath  as  to  a  fVstisal : 
And  miiistnls,  at  llu'ir  sc|inli'!ircs.  liavc  sliroiided 
Witii  baiiiu'r-folds  of  ^'lory  tin-  dark  pall. 

Who  will  lit'lii'Vi'?     Not  I — fur  in  d''i'civiiii; 
Lii's  tlie  di'ar  charm  of  lif.-'s  ddiiilitfid  dream; 
I  cannot  spare  the  Inxnry  of  bdicvinij 
That  all  thinLTs  lieantifnl  arc  what  ihcy  seem. 

Who  will  believe  t!i:it,  with  a  smilf  whose  Idessing 
Would,  like  the  patriareh's,  sooth  a  dviiiLT  hour, 
With  voice  as  low,  as  ir,.|itie  and  caressie 
As  cVr  won  m  liden's  lip  in  modnlit  Ix^wer, 

With  lodk  like  pntieiif  Jol.'s.  eschew  int,' evil ; 
With  motions  pract  >"id  as  a  bird's  in  air; 
Tiioii  art,  in  sober  tr';lli,  the  veiiest  devil 
That  e'er  elenehei!  fm^rers  in  a  t:ipti\e"s  hairl 

That  in  thy  breast  tliere  sprite/s  a  pnismi  fonnfain. 
Deadlier  than  that  where  bathes  the  r|)ii!*-trc'e; 
And  in  thy  wrath,  a  niir.sini,'  cat-o'-moiintain 
Is  calm  as  a  balie's  sleep,  compared  uitli  thee! 

And  underneath  th;it  face.  like  Summer  Ocean's, 
Its  lip  as  moveless,  and  its  cheek  as  clear, 
Slumbers  a  uhirlwind  of  the  iieartV  emoticms— 
Love,  hatred,  pride,  hope,  sorrow, — all  save  fear. 

liOVc — for  tliv  land,  as  if  she  were  thv  daiifrhter. 
Her  pipe  in  peace,  her  tomahawk  in  wars; 
Hatred — of  missionaries  and  cold  water: 
Pride — in  thy  rille-trophies,  and  thy  scars; 


4fi 


II 


if:' 


I  I 


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ft 


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M 


s.'ii; 


IM'IAN   HACKS  CK  A.MKIUCA. 

Hnpf— tlint  l!iy  wmriL's  m;iy  l>f  ]>y  flit-  nrc'it  Spliit 
UrniciMlicrcd  iiiid  n'Vrt;i.'((|  when  tlinii  iirt  (u>iw 

.Sorrow — lli.it  iioiic  ;irr  I,  I't  ll to  inli.'rit 

Thy  name,  tliy  r;.iiic,  thy  [Mssions.  jind  tliy  tliroiie!' 


ClIAI'TKU  VIII. 

PUKSKNT  COMJIMON   (i|.-    iin.;  MX  .NATIONS. 

TiiK  information  ('(Mitaincd  in  lliis  cluiptcr  isclnnvii  from 
Mr.  ScliooKM-aft's  abstracts  and  statistics,  prcsontal  in  hi.s 
"Notes  on  the  Ir(»|iiois." 

In  takin.L,^  ihe  (vnsns,  ordered  hy  the  New  York  Icgis- 
latnre  in  hSio,  and  j)r(.enriri,Lr  statistie.s  oftlie  a^nieult.ural 
c.|)erations()f  the  Iro(|nois,  tiic  antlior  inf.'rnis  ns  tliat^nvat 
ol.jcction  was  made  l.v  the  Indians  to  what  ihey  eonsi.K  ••(■(! 
an  oflieiuus  ii:tenne(hllin^'  in  their  all'airs.    Tlie'ir  sii>i.i..i,,iis 
were  oxeited  by  th(!  novelty  of  the  re(ini.siti()n,  and  tin- 
matter   was  disenssed   at  <.'iv;,t   h-n.^rth  in   their  eomirils. 
They  eonid  not  i)ersiiade  themselves  that  the  govrnniiciit 
should  take  sneh  a  st.-j)  IVcni  any  of  the  motives  nrged  hv 
thos.'  to  whom  the  business  was  intrusted.     Jt  ajipeared  to 
them   uu)A  iirol.ahle  that  llic;  measure  was  l)ut  a  ].reliiii. 
iii;ii-v  strp  to  the  layini,^  a  tax  uj)on  their  pro})erty,  aii.l 
they  eonse.piently  opposed  e(-ntinual  obstacles  to  a  satislhc- 
toiy  completion  of  the  (liify  assini,,.,].     'rhe  entire  |.op.i]a- 
tioii  of  the  Six  Nations,  about  the  middle  of  the  einhtceiitli 
centiiiv,   was   eoinpntvd   at  six   or  ei^ht  thou.-^and.      liv 
ether  calculations,  made  a  few  years  later,  at  the  pen.Mh)f 
the  American  revolution,  it  was  suj)posed  to  exceed  nine 
thousand. 

Conscious  as  wc  arc  of  the  many  cau.scs  con.stantly  ope- 
^atin,^r  to  reduce  the  numbers  of  the  Indian  poi)u]ati()n,  it 
id  a  matter  of  no  less  surjiriso  than  satisfactioij  to  ie;irn 


in  IS. 

IlCllt 

Ito 

im- 

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llic- 

iiilii- 

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\\y 

Hluf 

nine 


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'■      Til.'  tr 

i|  t.T.a.  T 

'■  a  ivscrvii 
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was  stiitc 
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Canada,  ]i 

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sus,  given 


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s 


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States  at 
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some  year; 
'    clothed,  a  I 

'!  22 

:i 


TIIK   Il;o(^l(iIS,  <)I5  SIX  NATIONS.  .'537 

that  tlnTi'  Ikis  Imtii  ii(»  vcrv  tiintt'i'ial  dcfrrjisc  in  llic  Iro- 
niiois  nation  since  tin*  oxtrnsion  <>|"  rivili/atiun  nvi'i-  llit'ir 
aiirii'iit  ci'untry.  It  is  i-l.-asiiiLMo  ivllfcf  that  .v.>m(«  j)()r- 
t\()\\  of  tlio  stran;i'o  i'a<'i'  tliat  I'onncrly  Ih-M  nii'listurlu'd 
nossi'ssion  of  tlic  wilils  of  America,  slioiild  l)c  prrsci'vcil 
to  show  wliat  ailvanco  they  arc,  as  a  people,  capal'l--  of 
iiiaiviiiL',  when  uitlc<l  ly  the  liflit  of  civilization. 

Tlie  tril)es  of  the  ancient  confcderaey  arc  wiilely  scat- 
terol.  The  larger  j)ortion  of  the  Oneiilas  are  setthd  upon 
a  reservation  in  tlie  vii-inity  of  (irmi  lliy,  \Vi>cnnsiii: 
smaller  villages  of  the  trihe  are  situated  further  southward, 
near  \Vinnc])ago  Lake,  'V\u)  nund)cr  of  these  etni'jfant.s 
was  stated  in  I'^M^  to  lie  seven  hundi'cd  an<l  twenty-two. 
The  Senccas  who  ha\'e  moved  westward,  wei'c  put  down 
at  ahoiil  two  hundred  and  thirty.  h"ilty-onc  of  the  last- 
moiitioiicd  triln',  were  I'csidcnt  at  Cornd'lanter's  settle- 
moiit  in  I'ennsylvunia. 

The  M.)hawks,  Cavu'jas,  and  others  on  Grand  river,  in 
Canada,  ))rol)ably  numlMr  over  two  tliousanil.  W'r  now 
cuine  to  the  more  certain  statistics  ol'  the  New  ^'<uk  cen- 
sus, given  as  follows,  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft: 


"Sciu'e'iis, 
Oiioiidn^MS, 
'J'usi'aroniH,    . 
One  id  as,   . 
Cayiif^as, 
Mohawks, 
St.  Ilet'is  ('iinton, 


'2,141 

3!  18 
i-'SI 
210 
lli3 
20 
2f)0." 


lie  estimates  the  wliolc  nation,  in  Canada  and  the  Unitcf] 
States  at  nearly  seven  thousand.  lie  supposes,  and  it 
would  SMcm  very  justly,  that  there  has  been  a  period,  within 
thi' last  c(Miturv,  at  which  their  numl)ers  weroreducfd  much 
below  those  presented  by  recent  returns;  "and  that,  for 
some  y<'ars  j)ast,  and  since  they  liave  been  well  lodged  and 
clothed,  and  subsisted  by  their  own  labour,  and  b(vn  ex- 
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Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


l^.. 


H 


-— ^^o 


338 


INDIAN    l!A(i;S  OF  AMKIUCA. 


emptcd  from  the  diseases  and  casualties  incident  to  suvn-re 
life,  and  the  cni{)ire  of  liie  forest,  tlieir  populati(;ii  U^ 
recovered,  and  /••j  noio  on  the  incrcafieJ'' 

Man}^  satisfactory  evidences  of  tlirift  and  good  rnuiiau'e- 
ment,  in  the  sha})e  of  saw-mills,  school-houses,  |)iililic 
buildings,  and  well-kept  farms,  a}i})ear  in  the  huliaii  »,t- 
tlcments  of  New  York.  Nothing  seems  so  eoiKJiicivc  lo 
the  welfare  of  this  species  of  our  population  as  a  (Icjiriiil- 
cuce  upon  their  own  resources,  whcj'c  the  means  (jl'a'lwni- 
tagcous  labor  are  suj)plied  them.  'J'he  (!vils  of  tlie  anun;  v 
system,  and  of  the  custoiri  of  farming  out  their  lamls  tu 
the  whites  by  the  Indians,  have  been  fully  and  elofpii'iiilv 
set  forth.  The  first  of  these  ])i'actices  lias  the  cllii^t  to 
l)ring  a  horde  of  unj)rincipled  sluirpei's  about  the  plin'i.! 
where  the  yearl}'  })ayment  is  made,  who,  b}'  tlie  li'injita 
tions  of  useless  finery,  and,  far  woi'se,  by  the  oil'ci-  of  the 
red-man's  greatest  bane,  intoxicating  licpiors,  rendrr  tiio 
assistance  of  the  government  oft-times  rather  a  cuiso  tima 
a  blessing.  The  latter  usage  is  productive  of  evil  ly  its 
encouragement  of  idleness,  and  by  strengthening  that  sfii.^c 
of  pride  and  self-importance  which  distinguishes  the  wvv. 
AVhere  the  change  in  the  face  of  the  country,  and  the  in- 
troduction of  domestic  animals  have  remlered  tlie  <  ]ia>e 
no  longer  necessarj^  or  j^rofitablc,  the  Indian  still  pivf  in 
ranging  the  woods  with  his  dog  and  gun,  to  the  endurance 
of  what  he  esteems  servile  labor. 

Striking  exceptions  to  the  above  remarks  ai'C  to  be  seen 
in  the  conduct  and  employments  of  many  inhabitants  (-f 
Indian  villages  in  New  York.  Good  husbandry  is  evi- 
dent in  the  management  of  their  farms,  and  artisans  oi 
no  mean  skill  are  fretpiently  met  with.  Some  of  these 
Indians,  who  have  turned  tlijir  attention  to  the  ai't  of  work- 
ing in  silver,  are  said  to  produce  very  beautiful  speeiinena 
of  ornamental  work,  esjiecially  in  the  in-laying  of  gun- 
etocks,  handles  to  tomahawks,  etc. 


THK  lUoyUOIS,  OK  SIX  NATIONS. 


339 


A  portion  of  the  Scnecus,  settled  upon  the  Alleghany,  oc 
cuj>v  tlieinselvcs  in  rafting  and  boating  u|)on  tiic  river,  and 
others  are  engaged  in  the  lake  navigation,  There  seems, 
indeed,  to  be  no  want  of  bodily  or  mental  capacity  in  the 
North  American  Indian,  fur  the  successlul  pursuit  of 
nearly  every  trade,  profession,  and  occupation,  foHowed 
bv  the  whites. 

One  most  beneficial  reformation  has  taken  place  among 
some  of  the  Iroquois,  in  a  movement  which,  if  universally 
encouraged,  would  do  more  to  regenerate  the  red-men, 
than  all  other  influences  combined.  We  allude  to  the 
introduction  and  formation  of  temperance  societies. 

The  returns  of  agricultural  products  given,  at  the  time 
of  taking  the  census  before-mentioned,  in  184;"),  are  ex- 
tremely gratifying,  and  may  well  convince  us  of  the  steady 
and  hopcfid  advance  made  by  the  New  York  Lidians  in 
self-reliance  and  honest  industry. 

Communications  from  the  missionaries,  engaged  in  the 
instruction  and  religious  guidance  of  the  Indians  dwelling 
on.  the  diftercnt  reservations,  bear  witness  to  the  docility 
and  aptness  of  their  pupils.  The  llev.  Asher  Bliss,  in  a 
letter,  published  in  the  a})pendix  to  Afr.  Schoolcraft's  notes, 
observes:  "As  to  the  capacity  of  Indian  children  for  im- 
ju'ovement,  my  own  impression  is,  that  there  is  no  essen- 
tial difference  between  them  and  white  children."  Of  the 
inlluence  of  the  Christian  religion  upon  the  worldly  pros- 
perity of  the  people  among  whom  he  Avas  stationed,  (the 
Scneeas  of  the  Catara\igus  reservation,)  Mr.  Bliss  speaks 
enthusiastically.  He  contrasts  "the  framed  houses  and 
liarns,  the  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  the  acres  of  im- 
I'l'Dvcd  land;  the  wagons,  buggies  and  sleighs;  the  clocks, 
watches,  ai.d  various  productions  of  agriculture,"  with  the 
destitution  and  poverty  of  former  times,  and  exclaims, 
naturally  enough,  "  What  an  astonisiiing  change  I" 


r, 


■    |:£!f  P 


H 


1^ 


^.i;^t|HT.. 


i» 


^ 


1 

1 

1 

i 

PONTIAC'S  WAR. 


CJIAPTKK  I. 

PUENCH  INFLUENCE  OVKIl    THK    INDIANS — IIIUTISII    OCCUPATION   OK 

THE  WESTERN   I'OSTS roNTlAC   ANIJ  IllS  i'LANS  FOR 

EXTEKMINATING  THE  ENOMSH. 

FiAiiLY  in  tlie  eiglitccntli  century  tlic  French  had  corn- 
mcnced  extending  their  influence  umong  tlio  tribes  who 
inhabited  tlie  country  bonlering  on  tlie  great  western  lakes. 
Always  more  succcHsful  than  the  other  Jvuroj)ean  settlers 
in  conciliating  the  afrections  of  the  savages  anujiig  wIk^hi 
they  lived,  they  had  obtained  the  hearty  good-will  oi'  na- 
tions little  known  to  the  English.  'J'he  cordial  faniiliurily 
of  the  race,  and  the  terms  of  eiusy  equality  uj)on  which 
they  were  content  to  share  the  rude  lints  of  the  Indians,  in- 
gratiated them  more  readily  witii  their  hosts,  than  ae<;urse 
of  Knglish  reserve  and  formality  could  have  done.  Tin; 
most  marked  instances  of  the  contrast  between  the  two 
great  parties  of  colonists  may  be  seen  in  the  dill'eront 
measure  of  success  met  with  in  their  res])ective  religions 
oj)erations.  While  the  steri!  doctrines  of  New  J^lnglund 
divines,  lus  a  general  rule,  were  neglected  or  contennit;(l 
by  their  rude  hearers,  the  Jesuits  met  with  signal  sueirss 
in  acquiring  a  s})iritual  influence  over  the  aborigines. 
Whether  it  w;us  owing  to  the  more  attractive  form  in 
which  they  promulgated  their  creed  and  worshi]),  or 
whether  it  was  due  to  their  personal  readiness  to  adapt 
themselves  to  the  habits,  and  to  sympathize  with  the  feelings 


dJ 


^    r(JNTIACS  WAIi. 


JJU 


of  their  proselytes,  ccrt.'iiii  it  is  that  tliey  rriaiiitaiiUMl  a 
strong  hoM  u[)()ii  th(j  aflections,  and  a  jxnverful  influence 
over  tli<!  eon(lii(;t  of  their  a(lo[)te(l  brethniii. 

A'lair,  writiri<.MvitIi  iiatnral  [)i'ejiiiliee,  says  that,  "insfeail 
of  reforming  the  Indians,  the  nioid<s  and  (Viars  eon-iijiteil 
tlif'ir  nmrals:  for  in  the  jilaee  of  inculcating  love,  jteacc, 
and  good-will  totlnnr  red  pnpils,  as  hcr.iime  niessi'iigei's  of 
ilie  (livin(!  author  of  peace,  they  only  impressed  their  flexi- 
hlr  minds  with  an  iniplaeahlf!  liatr(;d  against  every  l>ritish 
.suhjeet,  without  any  distinction.  Our  people  will  soon 
discover  the  had  f)oliey  of  the  late  Quebec  act,  and  it  is  to  lie 
lio[icd  that  Great- 1  Britain  will,  in  due  time,  setid  those  hlaek 
ri'oaking  clerical  frogs  of  Canada  home  to  theii-  iidallilih; 
Mulfi  of  Kome."  'J'hc  Ottawas,  Chij)p(nvas,  and  Potta- 
watoiiiies,  who  dwelt  on  tlie  ( ireat  ■  Lakes,  pro\'ed  as 
stainich  adherents  to  the  i''rcnch  interests  as  wei-e  the  Six 
Nations  to  those  of  the  Jviglish,  and  the  bitterest  hostility 
jirevailed  l)etwe(;ii  these  two  gn,'at  divisions  of  the  abo- 
riginal ))opidatiori. 

Wlam  Mnglish  trof)ps,  in  accordance  vvith  the  treatv  of 
IT'in^  were  jtut  in  j)ossession  of  the  l''rench  statiotis  ou  the 
lakes,  tlay^  found,  tlu;  Indians  litth;  disj)0scd  to  assent  to 
the  change.  TIh!  great  sachem  who  stood  at  the  head  of 
tli(!  coiifcderat(i  western  tribes  was  the  celebrtited  Ottowa 
cliif'f  i'(;ntiac. 

The  first  detachment,  nnd<T  ^^aior  Rogers,  which  entei'ed 
the  west(,'rn  country  ow  tin;  way  to  hetroit,  tin;  niMst  im- 
jjortatit  post  on  the  lakes,  was  fivorably  j'eecived  b\-  the 
Indian  chief,  but  not  without  a  proud  assei'tioii  of  his  own 
rights  and  authority.  He  sent  a  formal  endtassy  to  I'led 
the  Knglish,  and  to  announce  his  intention  of  giving  an 
audience  to  their  commander,  lio'rers  des(!i-ibes  him  as  a 
chi(;f  of  noble  aj)pearaiice  and  dignified  address.  At  the 
conference  he  in([uired  ])y  what  right  the  Knglish  entered 
bis  country;  and  up(ju  the  Maj(jr's  disavowing  all  hostile 


h:' 


;'t 


i  I'-fj 


.n2 


I.\I;1AN   KACKS  (jF  AMlilllCA. 


iiiU'iit  touiinl.-;  llic  Inillans,  sccriK.-d  iii()i-(!  [iIuc'iIjIc  ],m 
cliccUc'il  iiny  rui-lhcr  iulvaiicc,  iiiilil  his  jilcasiirc  .-limilil  1,,; 
iu;((l(;  kiKAVii,  willi  the  (jifJiy  ohscrvatioii :  "I  stainl  in  the; 
I'iilh  you  travel  until  to-iiH/i  low  iiKJi'iiiiiL';."  lie  tinallv 
ail(nv(!(l  tli(;  forces  to  ])i'(^eeci|j  an^l  evi;ii  luriiished  men  lo 
jiroteet  th  .;iii  and  their  stores. 

I'oiitiiie  assisted  ;uid  pi'otcnile'd  this  ^/arrison  for  a  |Hii<d 
liiit  jU(j!)al)ly  ev(;ii  then  was  jx^ndeiiiiL^  in  his  iiiiml  thi; 
uri'at  scheme  <;!'  restorin-^  his  J-'reneii  alli('s  and  (■.\trriiii. 
natin^^  tlie  intruders.  Ho  has  L(;(;n  frciju<'ntlv  coinpincd 
lo  I'hiii]),  the  ;^M'cat  AVaiiijjanoa;^  sachem,  \><)\\\  I'm-  Jiis 
kingly  spirit  and  lor  the  similarity  oi'  their  plans  t'^  ou.di 
th(;  (;ncroachmeiits  ol'  the  luiglish.  I'ontiac;  had  an  im- 
mense Idree  und*;]'  his  control,  and  could  well  all'oid  to 
distribute  it  in  as  many  dillenMit  detachments  as  thoo 
were  strongholds  oi'  the  (Mieiny  to  1h;  overthrfuvn.  It  \v;is 
in  the  year  IT'i.'i  that  his  arrangements  were  c(^nij)l(;1id, 
and  the  month  (^i'.Iiuie  was  lixtMl  u|)(jn  idr  a  simultam- 
(;us  (onslaught  n\n>\\  {ivvjy  British  j)Ost.  'i'he  (;l(jquent  and 
sagacious  Ottowa  chief  had  drawn  into  his  c(;ns|iirac\-,  not 
(jidy  the  people  (;('  his  own  nation,  wdth  tlu^  (diippcua.s 
and  Pottawatomi(!s,  but  large  niimb"rs  from  other  w  ■.-tciii 
tribes,  as  the  Miamies,  the  Sacs  and  I^'oxes,  the  Jlurons 
and  the  Shawanees.  lie  ev(3n  secured  tluj  alliance  oi'  a 
poi'ti<jii  of  tlu!  I)(dawar(!s  and  of  the  Six  Xati<;ns. 

In  vain  wei'c  the  oflicers  of  the  garrisons  at  .MichiH- 
mackinae  and  other  distant  forts  warned  by  traders,  who 
had  ventured  among  tla;  Indians,  that  a  general  disallir- 
tion  was  observable.  They  felt  secui'c,  and  no  si)ccial 
means  were  taken  to  avert  the  coming  storm. 

So  well  concerted  were  the  arrangements  f(;r  attack,  and 
such  consummate  duj)licity  and  dec(![jtion  were  used  in 
carrying  thetn  out,  that  nearly  all  the  Knglish  f)ilrf  at 
the  west  were,  within  a  few  days  from  the  lirst  demon- 
stration, in  the  hands  of  the  savages,  the  garrisons  liaving 


1 


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i' 

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HI     i^^B^B 

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1 

PONTIAO'S  WAR. 


343 


bocn  iiKiJ^sacrcd  or  enslaved.  Xo  less  than  nine  trading 
and  military  posts  were  destroyed.  Of  the  seizure  of  ^f  ieh- 
iliniackinac,  next  to  Detroit  the  most  impcM'tant  station  on 
the  lakes,  we  have  the  most  paftiiMihu-  aeeount. 

linndreds  of  Indians,  mostly  Chij)pe\vas  and  Saes,  had 
been  loiterin,t^  about  the  plaee  for  some  days  previous,  and 
on  the  -Ith  of  June  they  proceeded  to  celebrate  the  king's 
hirtliday  by  a  great  game  at  l)all.  This  sport,  carried  on,  as 
usual,  with  noise  and  tumult,  threw  the  gjirrison  oil*  their 
;.niard,  at  the  same  time  that  italTorded  a  pretext  for  clam- 
bering into  the  fort.  The  ball  was  S(;vend  times,  as  if  by 
accident,  knocked  within  the  pickets,  the  whole  gang  rush- 
iiiL^  iu  i)iu\suit  of  it  with  shouts.  At  a  favorable  moment 
tlioy  fell  upon  the  English,  dispei-se(l  ;uid  unsusj)icious  of 
intended  harm,  and  before  any  ell'eetual  resistance  could 
be  made,  murdered  and  seal])ed  seventy  of  the  number. 
The  remainder,  being  twenty  men,  were  takcm  captive. 
A  Mr.  Uenry,  wdio,  by  the  good  offices  of  a  Pawnee 
woman,  was  concealed  in  the  house  of  a  Frenchman,  gives 
a  niinutc  detail  of  the  terrible  scene.  From  his  accoun'- 
all  the  fury  of  the  savage  seems  to  have  been  aroused  m 
the  b(5Soms  of  the  assailants.  lie  avers  that  ho  saw  them 
drinking  the  blood  of  their  mangled  victims  in  a  transport 
of  exulting  rage. 

Over  an  immense  district  of  country,  from  the  Ohio  to 
the  lakes,  the  outbreak  of  the  combined  nations  spread 
desolation  and  dismay. 


'  f 


1'       :' 


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p  ^fl 


4 


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^' 


■!^ 


314 


INIMAN    liAChS  (^K  AMKlilCA. 


Oil  Am;  11  II. 

SIKf;K  op   DKTKOIT — ItATTI-K  OK  lll.oonV  nUIItGK. 

I'o.\"riA(;  liiiiiscIC  turned  liis  utteiition  to  tlio  n^diictiMii 
of  Detroit.  lie  well  knew  tliut  u  rieli  Ijooty  iiwaited  liim 
il'  Ik;  could  |)(;s.ses.«  himself  of  this  ittiportutit  jihice,  ami 
laid  his  plans  with  cuuticjn  and  eai'e  suitaljle  to  the  ni;iL;iii- 
iude  (jf  the  enterprise;.  The  t(j\vn  was  fortided  hy  pidji.s 
and  hlockdionses,  and  eontained  a  ^'arrison  cjf  one  hun- 
dred anil  thii'ty  men.  The  other  inhahitants  eonsisteil  of 
only  a  (ew  traders. 

J'ontiacAs  intention  was  to  demand  a  ccjnferenije  wilh 
Majorliladwyn,  the  eonnnandant,  takin<^  with  him  as  luanv 
of  his  warriors  as  eould  (jhtain  admittanee;  ami  at  a  j:i\eii 
si;^'nal  to  fall  U[ion  and  kill  the  (^Ifieers  of  the  ;4arrison.  TIkj 
Avork  (jl' destruction  was  t(;  he  e(jm])leted  hy  tlu;  aid  ol'  IiIh 
fbllowei's  from  without  the  i'ort.  Tlu^st!  whom  he  linij  cjio- 
.sen  to  sliai'e  with  him  the  dan;^a'r  of  the  fii'st  onshiU'jht, 
were  each  furnished  with  a  I'ille,  having  the  harivj  so 
shortened  that  it  eould  he  eoneealed  under  the  lilanket 
usually  worn  hy  au  Indian  as  his  outer  ^airnient. 

The  aeeount  generally  reeeived  of  the  manuei'  in  uliitli 
Major  (ihulwyn  heeame  aeipiainted  with  the  plot,  ami  nf 
the  means  resoiled  to  hy  him  to  ward  olf  the  daiiiier,  is 
as  follows:  l*oiitiae,  with  several  hundi'ed  warrit»r.-,  juv- 
senteil  himself  without  tla;  eamp,  and  n-ijuested  an  aihli- 
enee.  <  )n  tla;  ev(  iiiiijj,"  of  tlu'  same  day,  a  S(piaw  came  to 
(leli\er  to  the  Major  a  pair  of  moccasins  whieh  he  had 
engaged  her  to  make  from  an  elk-skin.  After  he  had 
praised  her  work  })aid  her  handsomely,  and  dismisseil  her, 
with  direetions  to  ecmvert  the  rest  of  the  skin  into  similar 
arlieles,  she  eontinued  to  linger  ah(jut  the  })remises,  a}'pa- 
rently  in  an  unsatisfied  franu;  of  mind,  llcr  answci's  to 
those  who  ipiestioncd  her  were  so  singular,  partieulai'ly  a 


I* 


rONTIAiJ  .S  WAU. 


[iilj 


I  1      R 


hint  tiiat  she  (Inijipcil  rc.-.]»cct,iii;^f  tlif  ililliciilly  siu;  .should 
have  ill  "l>riiit^iii;^'  tlu;  skin  b;i(;l<,"  tli:it  the  Miijor  c.xaiii- 
iiud  lnT  closely,  ami  siiccucdcil  in  oljtaiiiiii^f  lull  jiaitK'U- 
liii's  of  tin,'  iinpondiii;.^  diiii^'cr.  TIk-  poor  woiunii,  all('ctr(l 
bvliis  kindness,  lind  liccii  unwilliii,^'  tosrulicf  pation  mui- 
(lored,  Ijut  four  ol'  tlio  vcii;i;('an(;c  ol'  her  own  iM(»|)|f,  oi'  a 
natural  fcclin;^  ol'  inlcrcst  in  their  success,  had  rcstiained 
her  Ironi  sooner  betrayin;^'  their  deadly  pui'po.-e. 

Thi'ou.uh  the  night,  and  ])revious  to  the  morning's  eon- 
fort'iice,  the  Indians  wei'e  distinctly  heard  pciforniing  tliiir 
wur-songs  and  dances;  but  no  intimation  was  givi'U  ihcm 
of  iuiy  susj)ici(ni,  iuid  the  party  dcputrd  for  the  grand  talk 
was  admitted  within  the  pickets.  J'ontiac  saw  that  tin.- 
garrison  waH  under  arms,  and  he  at  once  asked  the  reason 
fur  such  precautions.  ^J'ho  major  representetl  that  it  was 
merely  to  discipline  his  soldiers. 

The  Ottowa  chief  opened  the  council  with  a  haughty 
and  threatening  speech,  and  was  about  to  gi\<;  the  signal 
f )r  attack — by  some  jjccidiar  nujde  of  delivd'ing  a  uam- 
jiuiu  belt  to  the  commandant — wdien  a  sudden  chang.:  in 
the  demeanor  (;f  the  iMiglish  (pi<*Iled  and  discomposed  him. 
lie  heard  the  drums  beat,  and  saw  v.vvvy  soldici's  nuisLct 
levelled,  and  the  swords  of  the  oflicei's  (b'awn  ami  rrady  ('  >v 
use.  Major  Gkidwyn,  ste[)i)ing  to  the  warrior  ncaicsl^  liini, 
lifted  his  blanket,  and  disclosc(l  the  shoi-tened  rillt.'.  lie 
then  np])raided  the  sachem  for  his  intended  villany,  and, 
taking  iio  advantage  of  the  (jppoilunity  ii)r  se-curing  him, 
gave  {)roof  of  liis  own  high-minded  sens(;  <>['  honor  by 
dismissing  the  whole  paily  unhai'med.  The  pi'i'nieditated 
treacher}'  of  Pontiac  would  have  fully  justilled  the  com- 
mandant in  taking  his  life,  had  he  deemed  it  neccssarj-  for 
the  protection  of  himself  and  j)eoplo. 

Immediately  suUsequent  to  the  failure  of  this  umlortak'- 
iiig,  the  Indians  began  o])enly  to  attack  the  town.  'J'hcy 
baibarously  rnurdei'cd  a  Mrs.  Turidjcll  and  her  two  s-ius, 


ii; 


ii* 


IH 


'i» 


I 


m 


y.W 


m* 

u 

U-"          id  mm 

W 

ij 

'''',  LlimM 

1 

t 

tilBilSl 

M 

^'^tk 


if?i*i'^ 


m 


T  111 


310 


INDIAN    UACKrf   oK  AM  KKH'A. 


who  liv'il  u  sliMi't  <li.>t;iii(j(;  IVdih  tlic  (ui't;  iiml  killed  or 
took  j)i'i.si  Miens  tli(?  ocfujtaiifs  of  mi  cstiililisliiiicnt  Ifcloii'Mri" 
to  ;i  Mr.  .l;iiii('S  I-'ishrc,  still  'iiitlirr  ii|)  the  rivrr. 

l''roiii  livi'  liiiii(|iv(l  to  a  t|i(,iisaii(|  Iii(liaiis  ui'iv  ih,',./ 
seen  foUcrtrd  to  lay  sic^e  to  tlir  town.  'I'Ik-  coniliiioii  ,,]' 
tlio  gurri.soii  apiicart'd  |M'iiloii,s  in  tli(:  cNtrciiirj  not,  (MiIv 
from  tli(!  insiilHricnt  supply  of  provisions,  Imt  (loni  tip- 
lu'ces.sity  for  k('cj)in,!^'  f(>nstant  watch  lliroii.^hoiit  tlir  whnli; 
extent  of  tli(!  stoekade.  Tlie  soMiers  wei'e  wearinl  |,v 
buiiig  eontiiiually  on  duly,  hy  tin;  loss  of  tlicir  iiatui;il 
rest;  but  their  eoura,i:(!  and  spirit  appeare(l  to  he  unsul). 
dued,  an<l  tlie  eomniandant  abandoned  liis  first  inteiitinn 
of  evacuating-  the  place.  'i"lu!  I'Vcnch  who\\cre  rcsidiiii.' 
in  Deti'oit  broii^!j,'ht  about  a  iie,L!otiation,  but  I'ontiac  in>istcd 
upon  the  surremlcr  of  the  town,  and  of  all  the  vahiahlo 
goo(hs  stored  ther(^,  as  th(3  only  eoiiilitioii  upon  which  lie 
wouhl  (liscoiitinne  hostilities.  The  major  was  eipiallv 
determine(l  in  his  intention  of  maintainiiiL^  his  j)ositi(jii. 

The  siege  coininen(_:cd  early  in  May,  ami  no  siu'cor  er 
snjij)lie.s  reacliiMl  the  garrison  for  more  than  a  month. 
About  tli<!  end  of  May  an  attem]>t  liad  l>eeii  made  to  limd 
forces  and  provisions  by  boats  sent  from  Niagara,  but  tlio 
vigilanc(!  of  tlit;  Indians  icmh'red  it  abortive.  Maiiv  nf 
the  Knghsli  weix;  slain,  and  many  more  wen;  rcst'rved  to 
glut  the  vengeance  of  the  savages,  at  the  .stake. 

lu  the  month  of  June,  a  vessel,  also  from  Niagara,  made 
lier  way  up  the  river,  in  spite  of  tlie  uttaeks  of  the  Indian;^, 
wlu)  exposed  their  lives  wdth  the  utmost  temeritv  in  at- 
tempts to  board  her.  Fifty  soldi(>rs  we  o  landed  at  the 
fort,  and  u  timely  supply  of  ])rovisioii  gave  Jiew  couraw 
to  the  weary  garrison.  Mr.  Thatehcr,  in  his  "Indian 
Biography,"  gives  extraets  from  various  letters,  written 
from  the  fort  during  the  siege,  which  quaintly  enou-h 
portray  the  condition  of  its  inmates.  AVe  quote  the  fcdlow 
ing  from  a  letter  of  July  Olh  (ITGii): 


I'ONTIAC  .S  WAU. 


347 


••  V"M  li;ivi*  liMi;^  ft^o  liciiiil  «»r  (tiir  pleasant  Sitiiatioti,  Liit 
the  .-liiriii  is  1)I()\VM  over.  Was  if  imt  \crv  a.LM'ci-aiilc  to 
l,rar  fvrrv  I>ay  of  llu-ir  cuttiiiL'',  carviii.LJ',  liuilin;^  jiikI  cat- 
iiij-  (iiir  c'Diiipaiiioiis?  'i\)  set-  every  l)ay  di-ail  iSodirs 
llnatiii;^'  (hnvii  tlio  JJiver,  mangled  and  disli;_niii'd?  I'.ut 
I'liitoiis,  you  know,  nevei-  sliiink;  \vc  always  apiiraicd 
.';;v  b>  spite  the  Haseals.  'I'ln'}'  boiled  and  eat  Sir  llolirit 
jii'vci's;  and  wo  arc  informed,  by  Mr.  I'auly,  w  lio  «■<  -iped, 
'hi' other  Day,  froi.i  one  of  tin;  Stations  siirpii-rd  at  thi- 
hreakiii;^  outof  tho  War,  ami  eoniuinndi'd  by  hiniself,  that 
!ii'  liad  seen  an  Indian  have  the  Skin  of  Cajitain  llMbci't- 
-nil's  arm  for  a  'i'obaceo-l'oneh!" 

A  re'lnforeement  of  some  three  hundred  men,  nridcp 
Captain  Dalyell,  reaehed  iK'troit  tin;  last  of  July.  Th'ts 
stivii<fthoned,  the  commander  deemed  it  advisable  to  make 
ail  inniiediatc  sally,  and,  if  possible,  break  np  the  Indian 
t'ii('aiiii)ment.  Pontiac  heard  of  tin;  intendi'd  ni(i\fiiicht, 
and  was  well  j)re])arcd  for  tin;  Mnulish  when  tliey  mmle 
their  sortie  in  the;  evening.  So  deadly  and  ntie.Npectr<l 
was  the  fire  of  the  Indians,  who  lay  concealed  on  cithci' 
side  of  the  path,  near  the  brid.u'e  over  Jjloody  l!nn,  that 
more  than  one  hun(lre(l  of  the  tro()})S  were  said  to  have 
hei'u  killed  or  wounded. 

Subsequent  to  this  ])eriod  we  have  no  reliable  history  of 
the  acts  (jf  the  great  sachem  (jf  the  <  )ttawas.  His  jicoplc 
lnuig  round  Detroit  until  tlu.'  ensuing  spring,  keeping  tiie 
inhabitants  in  continual  alarm.  The  strong  foive  which 
was  k'd  into  the  western  count iw  by  (ieiici'al  I'radstreet  in 
the  early  ])art  of  tho  summer  of  17<!  1,  ell'cctually  overawed 
and  quieted  the  hostile  Indians. 

Pontiac  is  said  to  have  been  assassinated  by  a  Peoria 
Indian,  in  the  English  interest,  while  attending  a  council  in 
IT'JT.  Consideraldo  uncei'tainty,  however,  attends  the 
recital  of  the  latter  events  of  his  life,  and  of  the  causes 
which  led  to  his  death. 


^rr 

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THE  DELAWARES,  SIIAWANEES, 

AND  OTHER  TRIBES  OP  THE  MIDDLE  AND  WESTERN  STATES. 


CIIAPTEU   I. 

THE    DELAWARES — WII.MAM    I'ENN — ST.    TAMMANY — THE 

MORAVIANS TIFE  S'tAWNEKS FRKNCIl  AM)  INDIAN 

WAR UKADDOCK's  DEFEAT MASSACRE  OF  THE 

CANESTOliA  INDIANS DANIEE  liOONE. 

"A  noble  r.u'L'!  l)iit  tlu-y  nrc  gone 
Witli  tlii'ii-  old  t'uiTsts  wide  uiul  deep, 
And  we  liavc,  built  our  Ikudcs  upon 
Fields  where  tlieir  generations  sleep." 

Bkyant. 

Associated  with  the  early  history  of  the  Delawarcs  are 
thoughts  of  William  Penn,  and  of  his  peaceful  intcrcuiirse 
with,  and  powerful  influence  over,  the  wild  natives  with 
whom  he  treated.  At  the  first  settlement  of  the  country 
itv  Europeans,  the  tribes  of  this  nation  occupied  no  siiuill 
portii^n  of  the  present  state  of  Pennsylvania,  but  tlioir 
pi'iiK-i})al  settlements  lay  between  the  Potomac  and  t'lC 
llmlson.  Situated  between  the  a-reat  northern  and  .'^onth- 
oni  confederacies,  they  were  in  turn  at  enmity  and  engaged  \ 
ill  wars  with  either  ])arty;  but,  at  an  early  day,  tliey  wore 
in  a  measure  subdued  and  reduced  to  a  state  of  inferiority 
by  tlie  Six  Nations. 

'V\\(2  conduct  of  ]\mn  towards  the  Indians  has  ever  been 
S]iok(m  of  with  high  admiration;  and  we  are  assured  tlint 
his  care   f  »r   tlieir  interests,  and  anxietv  to  secure  tlinr 


'iW 


Ill 

lit'' 


p 

f 

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UIII.IAM  ri'NN'. 


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THE  DKLAWAUKS,  SHAWANKKS,  K'l'C. 


349 


n/uts,  ami  to  pi'otoct  tlieiii  fi'om  wrcnigs  and  aggression, 
r;;use(l  liis  naino  to  Le  icLjlizcd  among  tliu  IX'lawaivs. 
rjiOiH'l)taiiiing  tlie  iniinensc  grant  lro;ntlie  crown,  nanicil 
Priiiisylvania  at  tlio  time  <jf  its  Icstcjwnu'nt,  his  first 
lliouglit  was  to  draw  up  :i  tabU;  (;f ''conditions  and  con- 
ei.:ssioiis,"  for  the  government  of  these  who  sliould  adven- 
ture witli  liim  in  the  settlement  r?  the  wilderness.  He 
expressly  stipulated,  iu  behrdf  of  tlie  Indians,  tliat  their 
juTsoiis  and  pnjperty  should  ])c  protected  by  tin!  same 
laws  and  penalties  as  those  of  the  wliites;  that  ovei'reai-hing 
ill  trade  should  be  avoided  by  the  (•'jndnet  of  all  sales  in 
market  overt;  that  a  jury  of  six  whites  and  six  Imliaiis 
siiould  pass  upon  matters  in  disjjutc  between  indiviiluals 
ef  tlie  dilferent  races;  and  that  tlie  interest  of  tlu;  Indian 
sliuuld  be  made  the  special  care  of  every^  magisli'ate. 

In  the  autumn  of  li)62,  I'i'iin  came  over  I'rom  England 
to  regulate  his  new  colony,  and  especially  to  conlirm  the 
frii-iidly  relations  existing  with  the  Indians  inhabiting  his 
territory.  In  Clarkson's  Memoirs  of  I'enn,  the  following 
mention  is  made  of  hisgi'and  treaty  with  these;  ludive  pro- 
j)rii'tors.  From  religious  scruples,  he  did  n<jt  consider  his 
elaitn,  l)y  virtue  of  the  king's  grant,  to  l)e  valid  without 
the  assent  of  the  occu})ants,  and  he  determined  to  make 
lioiiorable  purchases  of  all  that  he  should  rerpiii'c.  Ar- 
raiigeiiieiits  had  been  made,  by  commissicjiiei's,  pie'vioiis 
ti)  Penn's  arrival,  for  a  gi'cat  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of 
ratilViiig  the  })roposed  sale,  "lie  jjr(K;ecde<l,  therefore, 
(at  tluj  a[)})ointed  time,)  acc<jmpani(;d  by  his  friends,  (;on- 
sistiiig  of  men,  women,  and  young  ])ersons  of  b(;th  sexes, 
to  Coaiiuannoc,  the  Indian  name  fir  the  jilacf;  wheiv 
Philadelphia  now  stands.  (Jn  his  arrival  then;,  In;  f  )und 
the  sachems  and  their  tribes  assembling.  '^I'hey  wert;  seen 
in  the  woc^ds,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  carry,  and  lo(jkeil 
frightful,  both  on  account  (jf  their  nuinlx'rand  their  arms. 
The  Quakers  are  rep(jrted  to  have  been  but  a  handful  in 


ily,::i^' 


.  ij*[' 


1-1 


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il'. 
1.1 


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350 


INIJIAN  JiACKS  OF  AMKl'JCA. 


ii-li''.-. 

■1'*  ■■' 
■(■tc(l 


coiri[),'iris(iii,  ;iiiil  tlx'Sd  witlioiit  :iiiy  we;if)on — so  llmt  dis. 
rii.'iy  iui'l  tc'iTor  hud  coinc  upon  thcin,  luid  they  iiot  coi;. 
fi<lc(l  ill  the  ri;:htcousn(;ss  oC  their  cause." 

'I'lui  (•.oiifereiiee  took  phice  upon  the  site  ;iri(,'r\v,'iri|,> 
occupied  by  the  town  of  Kensington,  u  few  miles  iili()\(; 
]*hiliidelj)hiti,  and  eaUed,  Ijy  the  Indians,  Sha(;kcrrii;i.\()ii. 
"^fherc;  was,  at  Shackertnaxon,  an  ehn-tree  <A'  ]iv<)i\\'/\n:\< 
si/e.  ^J'(;  this  the  hiadci's,  on  \H)i\i  sides,  repaired,  ajipin.icli. 
ing  eaeli  other  under  its  widely-spreading  hr;ui 
I'enn  woi'c  no  ornament,  or  symbol  (;f  authority,  exec],; 
iiluc  sash.  Standing  up  b(;fore  the  assembly,  Ik;  (lir( 
the  articles  of  mereliandize  brought  for  the  purchase,  t 
s[)read  before  him,  and,  displaying  the  engrossed  eojiv  ( 
the  tn.'aty,  awaited  the  movements  of  the  Indian  ehids. 

"Dnc  of  the  sachems,  who  was  ('hief  among  tliem,  piit 
uj)on  his  own  head  a  kind  of  chajjlet,  in  which  there  ;i!i- 
j)ear(;d  a  small  horn.  ^J'his,  as  among  the  primitive  fia-t'iii 
nations,  and,  accoi'ding  to  scripture  langu;ige,  was  an  em- 
blem of  kingly  power.  *  *  Upon  putting  on  this  h'ln:. 
the  Indians  threw  down  their  bows  and  arrows,  niid  .-''utt'l 
theniselves  round  their  chiefs,  in  the  f(;rm  oi'  a  h;ili'-niiH,n 
ujion  the  ground." 

'J'h(!  interpreter  now  announced  the  readiness  of  tii'' 
chiefs  to  listen,  and  I'enn  proceeded  to  read  and  e.xjil;ii;i 
tlie  ]»rovisions  of  the  treaty.      lie  premised  thatheiiml  hi-' 

] pie  used   no    warlike   im])lements,   l)ut  that  all   thiir 

desii'c  was  for  ])eace  and  C(jncord.  ])y  the  aitieles  el 
agreement,  the  Indians  w(ire  to  ])e  allowed  to  retain  pe- 
session,  f  )r  all  needrul  purposes,  even  of  the  land  seM, 
and  jiailicular  specifications  v/ere  inserted,  touching  the 
manner  in  which  their  rights  should  be  enf()rc(;d. 

lie  then  m;ide  the  stipulated  j)ayments;  distributeil  ;i'l- 
ditional  ])r(!sents;  and,  laying  the  parchmenton  tluigrounil. 
pr(jc(!eded  to  say  that  "he  would  not  do  as  the  ^^arylanli• 
crs  did,  that  is,  call  them  Children  or  Brothers  only;  lir 


'III.;  i»i;i.A\VAi;i;>,  sii.wvankks,  kt( 


sni 


(;ltrii  P;ii<'iits  were  iijit,  \i>  wliiji  lln'ir  cliilfli'cii  ioo  scN'fi-cly, 
aii'l  l)rntlii,'i's  f^i iiiictiiiics  woiiM  dillrr:  iicitlirr  woiiM  \n> 
cm! II] Ki IV  flu:  !•  riciiilslii|)  between  him  iiinl  llieiii  to  ii  ( 'liiiiii, 
liir  t!i''  I'liiii  might  sometiiiK^s  rust  it,  or  ;i  tree  iiii,L''lit  hill 
;i!i(l  hreak  it;  Ijut  In;  .-hnuM  consider  thi'iii  ;is  the  sniii'' 
;|i'.~li  Hud  hloinl  with  the  T'lii'lst ians,  ami  the  same  ;is  if  one 
mail's  ]»oi]y  W'TO  to  he  diviileil  into  l\V(;  jiarts/'  Ilandinir 
tin;  ]i.'irchment  to  the  e]ii(,'f  sachem,  I'tMiii  then  desired  him 
and  his  fissociutes  "to  j)rcscrv(;  it  carcndly  i'or  thi'ec  i/'mi- 
cratioiis,  that  tliejr  children  mi.iiht  iaiow  what  liad  j)assed 
hctwcc'ii  tli(;m,  just  as  if  he  had  remaine(l  himself  with 
tiifiii  to  repeat  it,  ''''  '"  'This,'  says  Voltaire,  'was  tip' 
oiilv  trcatv  hetwe(;n  thos(!  j)e()j)h;  and  the  Christians  that 
was  not  ratified  ])V  an  oath,  and  that  never  wa.s  hrok-en." 

ACier-aecounts  of  the  Indians,  as  ,Lriveii  l>v  i'enn  and  li;s 
assfjciate'S,  in  whi'di  the  estimahle  jioints  (jf  nati\-e  eh;irie- 
V-r  arc  jijeasinijly  jioi-trayed,  contrast  sti'aiiLiely  with  the 
iMaie(hctions  and  liitter  cxjir'e-sions  of  hatreij  wliieh  too 
iiiany  of  tlic  eai'lv  chronii'ler's  heap  upon  their  Indian  ene- 
inics.  Neve  I"  was  a  truer  sayin;j'  than  the  Spanish  pio\-ei-l', 
'"lie  wlio  has  injui'cd  you  will  ne\-er  foi\Ld\'e  you." 

The  name  h\-  \\dii<'h  these  Indians  have  e\-er  Ij'ch  d'siL''- 

iiati'd,    was   licstowed    ujion    them    hv    the    Mn'jiish,  frotn 

]/»i'd  I)e  la  Wai' :    in  their  own  tonirue  they  were  called  the, 

I    Lciiiii  Lciiape,  (( Iri'j-inal   People,)  as  the  chief  and  principal 

I    HtiK'k  from  which  mankind  in  'jcnei'al  had  sonimj-. 

j        C')ns[»icuous    amoi,^''    the    traditions    f<{'   tin-     I'clawai'es 

'j    ajipeai'S  the  nann;  of  their  old   chief  Tanianend.  or 'I'ani- 

Ttianv.     Wc  haA'c  no  vci-v  specific,  aecounts  of  the  jiistorv 

of  this  renowned  sachem,  hut  the  veneration  with  whieh 

the  Indians  recountci]   his  wisdom   and  \urtues  ser\-e(l   to 

raise  his  charactci- so  hi-jh  with  the  colonists  that  he  was, 

in  a  iiianner,  canoni/ed.     The  "Home  .loui'nal."  of  .Iiinc 

12tli,  18o'J,  makes  the   following  mention  of  the  singidar 

respect  [laid  to  his  memoi-y: 


;p!  ■■)!: 


■kW<'' 


'     \ 


ili 


i 


fr 


I! 


*,■ 


t 


m 


a.-  ihII 


»i<.r'*,"!*^ 


(11 


I" 


» 


m 


or,  9 


INlJlAN  HACKS  OK  AMKItKJA. 


"St.  'I';iiiiin;itij  is,  wo  Ix-lievf,  our  only  Anidic'iti  Saint. 
ITo  wtis  l.lic  cliii'l' ()(' ill!  Imliiiii  tiilx;  wliidi  iiilialiii.'il  I*. m,. 
syl\aiii:i,  uiiilc  that,  .slate  was  .still  ji  colony,  ami  cxcitivl 
so  imifli  r<v-jicct,  l,y  jiis  vii'fjirs  aii<l  (•xj)loit,s,  hoth  aiiiiMi'» 
tlic  uliitr  ami  red  jnc.u,  that,  alter  hi.s  death,  la;  was  rin,. 
oiii/rd,  and  tla;  day  of  lii.s  birth,  thu  first  of  .\ia\',  r<;j;ir:|c,l 
as  a  holiilav. 

'"  AlHdiristian  fount rir's,'. says  the  Savannah  ]ir].ii],liciiii, 
'hav*,'  their  tutelar  saint.  Kn;,dand  iia.s  lier  St.  (ieoinr- 
Scotland  her  St.  Andnnv;  Ii'eland  la-r  St.  J'atiirk;  i'lamr 
lier  St.  Oisjian ;  and  Sjiain  her  St.  dago.  In  this  eoimtrv 
\ve  hav(;  St.  Tanitnany.  Throughout  the  l'e\-oliitic)tiaiv 
War,  till!  natal-da\'  of  this  saint  was  (jhsei'ved  with  great 
]c.-|»eet,  ]>y  the  army  as  we]]  as  hy  the  ])eo|)]e.  Jt  was  m^t 
till  Mr.  dellerson's  administration,  wdien  (jencral  l)eaiheiii 
was  Seeretary  of  War,  that  the  (d)servanco  of  it  hv  the 
army  was  disjiensed  with,  and  the  change;  was  made  thi-n 
only  with  the  view  of  caiayingout  the  .system  (;f  rc^ti'ench- 
rrient  which  tla;  president  s(;ught  to  introduci;  in  tli'; 
administi'ation  of  the-  goveiwiment.  d"hc  lii'st  fort  luiilt  at 
St.  .Mai'y's,  (,'am<len  county,  aiid  p(,'rha{).s  the  first  Idit  in 
the  .slate,  was  called  j'ort  St.  Tammany.  ^V  gcntltMiiaa 
now  residing  in  this  city  was  ])resf!nt,  wddlo  a  hov,  at  ti 
celebration,  ly  the  officers  an<l  .Sfddiers  stationed  at  tin'  li)i't, 
of  St.  Tammany's-da}.  The  May-pole  n.sed  on  this  occa- 
sion was  a  tree,  with  its  branches  and  bark  removed;  and 
around  that  the  soldiers  danced  and  celebrated  the  d;i\'.'" 

it,  was  among  tin;  I)(;lawarcs  that  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting conimurdties  of  Christian  Indians  ever  exi.-ting  in 
America,  was  established  by  the  (dforts  of  the  ^bii;ivi;in 
mission.  The  v'snerable  Count  Ziri/endorf,  David  Zeis- 
IxTger,  and  John  Ileckewelder,  were  zealous  and  j)rMnii- 
iient  ])a,r1ak'ers  in  tlie  work  of  converting  ami  instruetin^' 
the  Indians.  From  Jfeckewelder  w(;  have  received  ruicli 
minute  and  interesting  detail  of  the  habits  of  the  pn.jil.' 


!■  I' 


r  f 


\m 


CO 


/,.    OKU  nay.    »  .-i -^  h  i  .vn  ro.v. 


m\i 


I' 


i« 


il 


4 


^ 

4 

i: 

,„,..i 

I 

'  i 

ii&v 

■ 

■*'     ' 

'' 

''i 

. 

THE  I)j:i,a\v.\iii:s,  shawankks,  etc. 


or.o 


amonc^  wliotii  lie  labored,  and  the  lnim;tni//ing  and  CMidiir- 
ing  iiidiii'iicc  of  Christian  doctrine,  enforecil  by  good 
exanijil';  on  tlw  pail  (;f  its  preachers. 

Th(;  circiuiistanccs  under  which  the  niissionarv  woik 
was  can-ird  on,  Avert;  extn^nely  adverse.  Dui'inL;-  the  loll^' 
rind  hlondv  I'Vcnch  and  Indian  wars,  evciy  talf  ol"  ImfdiT 
cruelties  and  massacre,  coinniitted  by  tlie  savages,  would 
instantly  arouse  a  sj)irit  of  retaliation  against  tlu'  whole 
race,  wl  "h  frequently  resulted  in  the  most  brutal  emtrages 
OL'ainst  the  ])eaceful  ^^oravia^  Indians.  A  population  of 
lawless  whites  inhabited  the  border  country,  whom  Ilccko- 
wcldcr  mildly  rebukes  in  the  following  terms; 

"I  have  yet  to  notice  a  class  of  people  generally  known 
to  us  by  the  name  of  'backwoods-men,'  man\'  of  whom, 
acting  up  to  a  pretended  belief,  that  'an  Indian  lias  no 
more  soul  than  a  buffalo;' and  that  to  kill  either  is  the 
same  thing;  have,  from  time  to  time,  by  their  conduct, 
brouirht  ;;'reat  trouble  and  bloodshed  on  the  countrv. 
Such  then  I  wish  to  caution,  not  to  si)oi't  in  that  manner 
with  the  lives  of  God's  creatures.  *  "  "  *  Believe  that 
a  time  will  come  when,  you  must  accoimt  for  such  vilc 
deeds'.  When  those  wdio  have  fallen  a  sacrillc(!  to  vour 
wickedness,  will  be  called  forth  in  judgment  against  you! 
nay,  when  your  own  descendants  ivill  teslifj  ajduist  ij<j\i.r 


The  Shawanccs  were  a  very  extensive  and  warlike  tribe. 
They  were,  according  to  Indian  tradition,  originally  from 
the  south,  having  inhabited  the  country  in  th(>  vicinity  of 
Savannah,  in  Georgia,  and  a  portion  of  AVest  I'lorida. 
r)eiiicr  en<i;afrcd  in  continual  war  with  the  Creeks  and  other 
southern  nations,  and  being  of  an  adventurous  and  roving 
disposition,  they  finally  emigrated  northward,  and  were 
received  upon  terms  of  friendship  by  the  Delawai'cs. 
They  settled  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  extending  thcm- 
23 


«.t 


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piiii 


—  .::--  .r> 


or.  i 


IMilAX  KACMS  OF  AMKlilCA. 


selves  ^n'aduully  fiirtlitT  west,  find  minglin;,'  witli  (.ilur 
Tici,Lrlilj(>riii;f  iKitions.  Their  lie;ul-(iu;irters  were,  in  i^rlv 
times,  not  I'ar  from  I'ittshui';^!!.  In  their  new  homes  tjicy 
])r()S{)cre(l  and  incnuised,  and  long  remained  owv.  of  th" 
most  f(^rmidal)Ie  nations  (jf  the  west.  'Ihc^y  unitrd  wjiji 
the  Delawures  in  hostihtie.s  against  the  soutlu^rn  trihcs. 

In  afler-tinu!S,  thrilling  legends  of  war  and  massaerr  in 
"the  <lark  and  bloody  ground,"  and  throughout  the  wr-t- 
crn  border,  attest  the  aetive  and  dangerous  spirit  of  this  w  ar- 
like  and  implacable  tribe.  In  the  French  und  Indian  wars, 
and  in  the  long  struggle  which  resulted  in  our  nati(jnal 
ind(!pendenee,  they  were  so  mingled  with  other  western 
tribes  that  we  shall  not  attempt  to  distinguish  them,  imr 
shall  we  dev(;te  that  space  to  the  Itiography  of  mnnv  nf 
their  chiefs  and  wari'iors  which  their  jd'owess  might  de- 
mand in  a  more  extende(l  work.  We  shall  give,  in  th.  ir 
order,  some;  (;('  tlie  more  etilebrated  Indian  campaigns  at 
the  west,  with  vai'ious  incidents  connected  with  the  lii'.-i 
settlement  of  the  western  states. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  I'Veneli, 
as  already  mentionecl,  had,  in  strengthening  their  coi'lnu 
of  j)osts  between  their  settlements  in  Camida  and  Louis- 
iana, formed  alliance  with  many  Indian  tribes  U>  \\'\\i>'.\\ 
they  were  brought  in  jiro.ximity.  Their  nearest  and  um'-I 
dangerous  aj)proach  to  the  English  establishments,  was  iu 
the  erection  of  the-  military  stronghold  called  l-ort  I'u- 
qiu;sne  at  the  confluence  of  the  Alh^ghany  and  Aroiion;_'-a- 
liela.  In  the  attempt  to  dishjdge  them  from  this  ])<)st  the 
military  talents  of  George  Washington  were  first  exhil)ite(l. 
After  distinguishing  liimself  by  his  bravery  and  ju-ndene; 
in  contests  with  the  Indians  and  I'Vench,  which,  owini:'  to 
an  insufrieiency  of  force,  resulted  in  nothing  decisive  or 
materially  advantageous,  he  was  attached  to  the  powerful 
army  under  General  Braddock,  in  the  cajmeity  of  aid-dc 
camp  to  the  commanding  oflicer. 


THK  m;i,A\VAi:i;s,  sifawankks,  inr. 


•)  r  r 


With  a  force!  of  niorc;  than  two  tlKnisainl  iiicii,  Ix'sidcs 
fioiiic  IiKliaii  allies,  the  liritish  ^'cncral  set  .systeiniitically 
ahout  the  rcluctioii  of  tho  l''r(Mich  fort.  Lcaviii;^  a  l.ir^^: 
body  of  troop.s  under  Colonel  Dunlcir,  at  (ii-e;if  Meadows, 
lie  marched  in  cotiipact  military  array  to  iIm!  attack.  No 
(Hie  doul.'ts  the  coura.L'c!  of  General  Braddock,  or  his  ciip;!- 
C'ity  to  have  conducted  a  cam  J  »ai;/n  in  an  open  and  inhabited 
country,  hut  his  (lo;^tnati(;  obstinacy  and  adherence  to  es- 
tablished tactics  jiro\-ed,  ujxjii  this  occasion,  tlu;  des.  net  ion 
of  liinis(!lf  and  his  army. 

When  \Vashiii<rton,  then  only  twenty-two  years  of  a;^'<', 
rt'speelfully  rcj-jresented  to  his  sujx^rior  the  dang(;r  of  an 
cxjiosed  march  through  a  country  like  that  they  were  tra\- 
ersiiig,  and  suggested  the  necessity  for  i)roviding  a  sullicient 
j)urty  of  scouts  acquainted  with  the  locality,  to  guaiil 
against  surprise,  he  was  insultingly  checked  by  the  ejacu- 
httion:  "High  times!  high  times!  when  a  young  J>uck- 
skiu  teaches  a  I)i'itish  general  how  to  tight." 

It  was  on  the  Dth  of  July,  IToo,  that  tiie  engagement 
took  place.  Captain  Contracceur,  who  had  onnnand  of 
t!ie  i'ovt,  had  (obtained  information  of  the  advance  upon 
the  })rcvious  day,  aiul  dis])atched  ^[.  de  Beaujeu,  with  all 
the  troo})s  he  could  muster,  to  meet  the  enemy.  His  whoh^ 
available  force  consisted  of  from  five  liundred  to  one  tli(jn-» 
sand  men,  of  wnom  the  majority  were  Indians,  but  a 
knowledge  of  the  gnmnd,  and  the  gross  error  of  the  Eng- 
lisli  conunander,  more  than  compensated  fur  the  disparity 
in  nimibers  and  discipline.  An  ambush  was  formed  when; 
a  ravine  led  from  a  plain  into  a  high  wooded  piece  of 
grmuid.  The  advancing  column  had  no  sooner  penetrated 
into  this  dcfdc  than  the  attack  commenced. 

A  most  appalling  carnage  ensued:  the  Indians,  tiring 
from  covert  upon  the  closely  marshalled  ranks  of  tlie 
regulars,  soon  threw  them  into  utter  confusion.  M.  Beau- 
jeu, was,  indeed,  killed  at  the  first  onset,  but  his  lieuten- 


I  :? 


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INDIAN   UACKH  OF  AMKUK'A. 


ara,  Duiriius,  coiititUKMl  to  iiisj)ir(!  liis  troops,  and  dnM-r  tlicrn 
on  to  lli<;ir  now  cusy  victory.  A  coiiiftkitcj  rout  t'lisucil, 
atnl  tli(!  Iiifliaiis,  nisliiii;,'  from  their  places  of  coiiccalMH-nt, 
fell  upon  tlic  ]);iiiic-Htrickcn  fu^fitivcH  with  their  dcuillv 
tomahawk's.  'I'hi^  Vir^'inians  ulont;  proved  in  any  dcn-i,.,. 
efVective  in  n;sistin;^  the  (MK^iny  and  covering  tli(^  disor- 
derly retn.'at.  The  loss,  on  the  j)art  of  the  British,  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoin^rs,  wa.s  not  far  from  ej^'hi 
hundre<k  All  the  artillery  and  baggage  fell  into  the  liaipis 
of  the  Vrcneh,  who,  with  their  Indian  allies,  rernaineil  in 
undisputtid  possession  of  the  field. 

Falling  back  upon  (colonel  Dunbar's  reserve,  instead  <■(' 
making  a  ninewed  stand,  the  whole  army  eontinucil  ;i 
pret'.ipitate  rc^treat  into  Virginia.  In  this  action  most  ol' 
the  Virginia  troops,  who,  adoj)ting  the  Indian  manner  cf 
warfare,  beto(;k  thtnuselves  tosheltcjrcd  positions  when  tip' 
fight  eornmenccd,  fell  victims  totlnnr  eonstaney  and  brave;- 
ry.  Colonel  Washington  had  not  fully  recovered  from 
a  severe  attack  of  illness  at  tlie  time  and  was  ^vitll  gnat 
(bffieulty  able  to  undergo  the  fatigues  incident  to  his  pn- 
sition.  1T(!  had  two  honses  shot  under  him,  and  re(H'iv(.'(l 
four  bullets  through  his  coat,  but  escaped  from  the  con- 
flict unwounded.  (j(meral  Braddock  died  a  few  days  after, 
of  a  wound  in  the  lung.s. 


The  Dclawarcs,  and  more  especially  tlic  Shawances,  were 
implicated  in  the  extensive  conspiracy  excited  by  the  re- 
nowned Pontiac,  in  the  year  17(53.  It  was  in  this  year 
that  a  cruel  and  disgraceful  outrage  was  porj)etrated  upon 
a  peaceful  community  of  Indians  at  Canestoga,  near  Lan- 
caster, No  sooner  had  news  of  Indian  murders  and  rav- 
ages been  spread  among  the  white  settlements,  than  a 
determination  was  evinced  by  certain  miscreants  to  de- 
stroy these  harmless  people,  upon  suspicion  or  pretence 


Jj 


fr 


THE  UKI.AWAIIKS,  HH AWANKKH,  KTC. 


or,  7 


thiit   tlicy  were  concerned,   in  sormi  way,   in    tlu;  recent 

The  (.'ancstogii  Indians  were  few  in  nnndxT,  and  jier- 
fcctly  iMMeel'ul  and  inollensivc.  'I'liey  Inid  inhabited  the 
Hamo  Htthi  scttleinenl  for  more  than  a  century,  and,  accord- 
ing to  IIceI<(!\vcliler,  "  their  ancestors  had  been  among 
tliose  who  had  wcUiomed  William  I'l-nn,  on  his  (irst  ar- 
rival in  this  c<nintry;  })rese!iting  him,  at  the  time,  with 
vctiison,  titc." 

Ill  the  month  of  Noveird)er,  (l7()o,)  fifty-seven  n'iit(! 
Kivages  started  from  Paxt(jn  to  ilestroy  this  estaljlishii.ent. 
Tliey  murdered  all  whom  they  eoidil  find,  to  the  number 
ol  luurt(,'en,  (jf  every  ag(!  and  sex:  the  remainder  (lifteen 
er  twenty)  escape*!  to  Laneaste.,  and  weic  I<>eke(l  up,  for 
safety,  in  the  jail.  Hither  the;  "Paxton  boys,"  as  they 
were  t<!rmed,  j)ursued  th<!  pooi-  eicateiTs,  iind,  lu'eaking 
into  the  iuelosure,  Id'Utally  massacred  tlu;  whole  of  ihem. 
The  followiiij'  is  extracted  from  the  letter  of  an  eve-wit- 
nc.-s  to  this  transaction. 

"  ""  "'^  1  I'nn  into  tlu;  ];)rison-yard,  and  there,  O  what  a 
horrid  sight  jircseii ted  itself  to  my  view! !-— Near  the 
hick  (h>or  of  the  jirison,  lay  an  ohl  Indian  and  his  sipiaw, 
(wife,)  [)articularlv  well  known  an<l  esteemed  by  the  j)eo- 
jile  of  the  town,  on  account  of  his  jilacid  and  friendly 
conduct.  His  nam(!  was  ^Vill  Sock;  aci'oss  him  and  his 
sijuaw  lay  two  children  of  about  tin'  age  of  thive  years, 
whose  heads  were  sj)lit  with  the  t( mnhawl:,  and  their 
Scalps  all  taken  off.  '^I'owards  the  middle  of  the  gaol-yard, 
along  tlu!  west  sid(!  of  the  wall,  lay  a  stout  Iiaban,  whom 
I  particularly  notieetl  to  have  been  shot  in  tin;  breast,  his 
legs  were  chopjied  with  the  tomahawk,  his  hands  cut  off, 
and  finally  u  rifle-ball  dhschargcil  in  his  mouth;  so  that 
his  head  was  blown  to  atoms,  and  the  brains  were  splashed 
against,  and  yet  hanging  to  the  wall,  for  three  or  four  feet 
around.  ^  *  In  this  manner  lay  the  whole  of  them,  rnen 


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INDIAN   i;a(  i;s  Ol"  AMKmCA. 


1 


women  and  cliilclivii,  sjii'cud  al)oiit  llio  prison-s-ai'd:  ^liot— 
8Cal))0(l— liackcil     aial  cut  to  pieces." 

The  ovciils  i.rCrcsMp's  war,  in  wliicli  tlie  Sliawaiircs  ami 
Delawaivs  were  so  largely  ccjneeiMied,  have  ])ccn  ali'cadv 
lii'iellv  (Icsci'ii  1,  in  eijnnection  with  the  historv  ot'  tin; 
Ji'u(|uois.  Alterthc^  great  Lattle  at  Point  Pleasant,  in  whirli 
they  ami  their  allies  were  defeated,  a  short  cessation  ot' 
hostilities  betwi^en  them  and  the  c;(jlonists  ensued.  Tin; 
breaking  ont  (/  the  revolutionary  war  I'evived  old  ani- 
mo-^ities,  and  suggested  new  motives  Ibr  contention.  The 
Shawanees  were  early  won  over  to  espouse  the  iJiiii.di 
interests:  the  division  of  the  Delawares  u])on  the  t[iir.-;ii,,u 
will  be  hereafter  e\])lained. 

The  best  information  handed  down  to  us  eoneei'ning  the 
Shawanees,  at  this  period,  is  to  be  found  in  the  adventures 
of  the  bold  pioneer,  Danii'l  Jioon.  Impatient  of  the  re- 
straints or  e(jmj)etiti(jns  of  an  iidiabited  c<.'unti-v,  and  led 
by  a  roving,  adventurous  spirit,  and  by  an  enthusiastic 
admiration  of  the  beauties  and  grandeur  of  the  unscttlfd 
v.-esteru  wilderness,  he  foi-ced  his  way  into  the  track'ess 
solitudes  of  Kentucky,  and  laid  the  foundati(;n  of  a  settle- 
ment wdiose  growth  and  i)rosjicrity  are  almost  unparalleled. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1778,  Boone  was  taken  prisoner 
by  a  strong  foree  of  the.se  Indian.s,  theu  on  their  niaivji 
against  the  settlement  at  Poonesborough.  lie  wascarrieil 
to  their  ])rineipal  town.  Old  Chilieothc,  on  the  Little 
]\riami,  and  thei'e  had  al)undant  oi)portunity  for  obseiviiiL,' 
their  native"  })eculiaritie.s  and  usages.  His  character,  sonu- 
what  analogous  to  that  of  Captain  John  Smith,  Peiijaniiu 
Church,  and  (»thers,  noted  ibr  their  successes  with  the 
Indians,  was  bold,  fraidc,  and  fearless.  Men  of  such  natui'c 
and  dis])Osition,  however  rude  and  uncultivated,  are  always 
the  best  able  to  conciliate  the  affection-s,  as  well  as  exercise 
control  over  the  minds  of  savages. 

Boone's  captors  took  such  a  liking  to  him  that  they 


zU 


:  t^ ' 


Tin-;  i)i:i, AWAKES,  siiaavankks,  etc. 


350 


positively  refused  to  deliver  liiin  u]>  to  the  English,  at 
Detroit,  whither  he  was  coi'.veyed  with  his  eoiiipaiiiotis. 
Leaving  tlic  rest  of  their  prisoners  at  that  post,  they  took 
liiiu  haek  to  Chilicotlie,  refusing  tlic  governor's  ofler  of  one 
hundred  pounds  if  they  woidd  part  with  their  favorite. 
The  king  of  the  tribe  treated  I'oone  with  great  eourtesy 
and  resjx'et,  and  he  had  no  reasoTi  to  complain  of  his  ac- 
commodations, as  he  enjoyed  wdiatcver  comforts  were 
within  the  reach  of  his  masters.  Ihi  was  adopted  into  a 
fnnily,  according  to  the  usual  Tiu^ian  custom;  in  which 
position  he  says;  "T  became  a  soi.,  and  ha<l  a  great  shan; 
in  the  affection  of  my  new  parents,  brothers,  sistei's,  and 
friends.  I  was  exceedingly  familiar  and  friendly  with 
them,  always  apj)earing  a.s  cheerful  and  satisfied  as  possi- 
ble, and  they  put  great  conlidence  in  me." 

His  captivity  lasted  until  the  month  of  dune,  when,  re- 
turninir  from  a  salt-making  excursion,  on  the  Scioto,  he 
found  four  hundred  and  Ciflv  Sliawanec  warriors,  collected 
with  arms  and  war-j)aint,  and  bound  on  an  expedilioti 
against  I'oonesborough.  This  incited  him  to  attempt  an 
escajie,  that  he  might  forewarn  the  settlement  of  the  intent. 
Ifc  fled  a  little  before  day,  on  the  10th,  and  male  tlu; 
jouriKw,  cf  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  supported  by  a 
single  meal. 

^fhc  bold  and  astonishing  defence  of  the  li-tle  foit  at 
r)Ooncsborough,  in  the  month  of  August,  against  a  large 
foi'ce  of  Indians,  accompanie'l  certain    l''renchmen,  is 

siiujilvand  unostentatiously  d  cii  ■■  .  "i>  the  auto-biography 
of  this  re(h)ubted  pioneer.  1  *  en.  .ny,  after  a  siege  of 
twelve  daj's,  in  which  every  e:.  -  it  of  force  and  treach- 
ery failed  to  dislodge  the  garrison,  were  forced  lo  n^tire 
without  effecting  their  purpose.  Oik;  of  their  stratagems 
was  as  follows:  A  treaty  was  })ro|)os(;d  by  the  assailants, 
and  after  the  articles  were  drawn  up,  in  front  of  the  foit, 
a!id  formally  signed,  in  the  words  of  the  narrative:   "tlic 


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360 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Indians  told  us  it  was  customary  with  tlicm  on  such  occa- 
sions for  two  Indians  to  shake  hands  with  every  white 
man  on  tlic  treaty,  as  an  evidence  of  entire  fi'ieiid.sliip. 
We  agreed  to  this,  hut  were  soon  convinced  tlieir  policv 
was  to  take  us  prisoners.  They  immediately  gra])]jlcd  us; 
but,  though  surrounded  by  hundreds  of  savages,  we  extri- 
cated ourselves  from  them,  and  escaped  all  safe  into  tlic 
garrison,  except  0!ic  that  was  wounded,  through  a  heavv 
fire  from  their  army." 

Boone  took  a  prominent  part  in  many  of  the  contests 
which  preceded  the  quiet  occup)ation  of  the  land  of  his 
choice,  and  underwent  toils,  dangers,  and  ])rivatioiis  srl- 
dom  awarded  to  any  one  man;  but  he  lived  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  his  labors.  An  old  Indian,  upon  the  occasicjii  of 
one  of  the  moi'c  important  treaties  of  cession,  after  signini; 
the  articles,  took  Boone  by  the  hand,  saying:  "Brother, 
we  have  given  you  a  fine  land,  but  I  believe  you  will  h;i\o 
much  trouble  in  settling  it."  The  old  settler  adds,  sjieiil:- 
ing  of  the  former  appellation  bestowed  on  this  "dcbateahlo 
ground":  "^fy  footsteps  have  often  been  marked  with 
blood,  and  therefore  I  can  truly  subscribe  to  its  ori^iniil 
name.  Two  darling  sons  and  a  brother  have  I  lost  by 
savage  hands.  *  "  J^Iany  dark  and  slee])less  nights 
have  I  been  a  companion  for  owls,  separated  from  the 
cheerful  society  of  men,  scorched  by  the  summer's  sun, 
and  pinched  by  the  winter's  cold — an  instrument  orchmied 
to  settle  the  wilderness.  But  now  the  scene  is  changed: 
peace  crowns  the  sylvan  shade." 


H  <>  li  D  KR     KJVCU  V  X  T  1-  «  . 


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THArriKO     THf.     BKJIR, 


TUE  DELAWAUES,  SllAWANKES,  ETC. 


yoi 


CIIAPTKU  II. 

IIIVISION    OF    THE    DF.LAWAKKS — WIIITK-KVF.S,  AM)    riPK — INPIAN 
CONFrCOERACY  OF  17^1 — ATTACK  ON   1!1,VA.NT's  STATION',  AND 

BATTLE  NEAH   THE   BLUE   LICKS GENKI!  AL  TLA  KKe's  EX- 

I'EDITION — DISASTROUS  rAMPAIfJNS  OF  HAKMAU  AND 

ST.  CLAIR MILITARY  OPERATIONS  OF  GENERAL 

WAYNE DECISIVE    RATTLE    NEAR    THE 

MAUMEE  RAPIDS,  AND  SURSEQUENT 
TREATY  OF  PEACE. 

"Tliey  waste  us — :iy — like  April  snow 
III  the  warm  ikxjii,  wc  .shrink  away; 
And  fast  tJicy  t'dllow  as  wo  go 

Towards  tlie  setting  day — 
Till  they  shall  till  the  land,  and  we 
Are  driven  int(t  the  western  sea." 
Bryant. 

As  the  settlements  of  the  Europeans  continued  to  in- 
crease, the  Dehiwarcs  gradually  removed  from  their  old 
quarters,  on  the  river  and  bay  -whieh  bear  their  name,  to 
tlic  Avildcrness  of  the  west.  Ko  small  portion  of  the  tribe 
was,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolutionary  war,  setth^l 
in  Ohio,  on  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum,  and  in  the  adja- 
cent countr3^ 

Every  influence  was  brought  to  bear,  by  the  English 
emissaries  among  the  Delawares,  to  induce  them  to  take 
up  the  liatehet  against  the  rebellious  Americans.  The 
effort  was,  in  part,  successful :  a  large  party,  headed  by  th(3 
celebrated  Captain  Pipe,  a  chief  of  the  Wolf  tribe,  declared 
for  the  king,  while  those  inclined  to  })eace  and  neutrality, 
or  whose  sympathies  were  on  the  side  of  the  colonies,  rc- 
mained  under  the  guidance  of  Koguethagechton^AngUce, 
Captain  Y7hite-Eyes.  The  disasters  and  perplexities  in 
which  the  nation  was  involved  by  such  a  division  might 


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362 


INDIAN  RACES   OF  AMFHICA. 


readily  be  foreseen.  Botli  the  opposing  loaders  were  men 
of  tiile)it,  energy,  and  boldness,  and  each  "was  licart  and 
soul  enlisted  in  the  cause  to  which  lie  had  united  himself. 

It  is  recorded  of  White-Kyes  that,  early  in  the  -war,  he 
met  with  a  dej)Utation  of  the  Senecas,  (then,  as  we  li;ive 
seen,  in  the  English  interest,)  and  boldly  avowed  his  own 
opinion.  ]n  re])ly  to  the  old  taunt,  thrown  out  by  one  of 
the  Iroquois,  of  former  subjection  and  humiliation,  the 
chief  broke  forth  indignantly:  "I  know  well  that  you 
consider  us  a  conquered  nation — as  women — as  your  infe- 
riors. You  have,  say  you,  shortened  our  legs,  and  ])nt 
petticoats  on  us!  You  say  you  have  given  us  a  hoc  and 
a  corn-pounder,  and  told  us  to  plant  and  ])ound  for  you — 
you  vien,  jon  rcarriors  !  But  look  at  7/ie.  Am  I  not  full- 
grown,  and  have  I  not  a  warrior's  dress?  Ay,  I  am  a 
man,  and  these  arc  the  arms  of  a  man, — and  all  that 
country  (pointing  towards  the  Alleghany)  on  the  other 
side  of  the  water,  is  mhieP^  AVhite-P^yes  was  signally 
successful  in  his  efforts  to  undeceive  the  Indians  within 
his  influence,  who  had  been  tampered  with  and  imposed 
uj)on  by  English  agents,  or  excited  hy  sympathy  witli  the 
war-j)arty.  His  death,  which  took  place  at  Tuscarawas,  in 
the  winter  of  1779-80,  was  a  very  unfortunate  event  for 
the  Americans,  lie  died  of  that  great  scourge  of  the  In- 
dian races,  the  small-pox. 

The  spring  of  1781  was  a  terrible  season  for  the  white 
settlements  in  Kentucky  and  the  Avhole  border  countiy. 
The  savages  who  surrounded  them  had  never  shown  so 
constant  and  systematic  a  determination  for  murder  and 
mischief  Early  in  the  summer,  a  great  meeting  of  In- 
dian deputies  from  the  ShaAvances,  Delawares,  Chcrok(X^^, 
Wyandots,  Tawas,  PottaAvatomies,  and  divers  other  tribes 
from  the  north-western  lakes,  met  in  grand  council  of  war 
at  Old  Chilicothe.  The  persuasions  and  influence  of  two 
infamous  whites,  one  McKee,  and  the  notorious  Simon 


-lilli^M 


TIIK  DELAWAIIKS,  SIIAWANf:KS,  ETC. 


363 


Gifty,  "inflamed  their  savage  minds  to  niiscliicf,  and  led 
them  to  execute  every  diubolieal  selieme." 

IJiyant's  station,  a  post  five  miles  from  Lexington,  was 
fixed  upon,  by  the  advice  of  Girty,  as  a  favorable  j)oint  fi)r 
tiic  lirst  attack.  About  five  hundred  Indians  and  whites 
encompassed  the  place  accordingly,  on  the  loth  of  August. 
Stratagem  and  assault  alike  failed  to  efi'eet  an  entrance: 
a  small  reinforcement  froui  Lexington  managed  to  jiAn  the 
irari'ison,  and  the  besiegers  were  compelled  to  retire  on  the 
third  day,  having  lost  thirty  of  their  number.  A\'hen 
Girty  came  forward,  on  one  occasion  during  the  si(\ge, 
bearing  a  flag  of  truce,  and  proposing  a  surrender,  he  was 
received  with  every  expression  of  disgust  and  eon  tern]  »t. 
His  oflers  were  spurned,  and  he  retired,  "cursing  and 
cursed,"  to  his  followers. 

The  enemy  were  pursued,  on  their  return,  by  Colonels 
Todd  an'l  Trigg,  Daniel  Boone,  and  ^lajor  Harland,  with 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  men.  The  rashness  of  some 
individuals  of  this  party,  Avho  were  unwilling  to  listen  to 
the  prudent  advice  of  I'oonc,  that  an  engagement  should 
be  avoided  until  a  large  expected  reinforeement  should 
arrive,  led  to  their  utter  discomfiture.  They  came  up 
widi  the  Indians  at  a  bend  in  Licking  river,  beyorul  the 
blue  Licks,  and  had  hardly  forded  the  stream  when  they 
were  attacked  by  an  overpowering  force.  The  enemy 
had  cut  off  all  escape,  except  by  reerossing  the  river, 
in  the  attempt  to  accomplish  which,  multitudes  were 
destroyed.  Sixty -seven  of  the  Americans  were  killed; 
among  the  number,  the  three  principal  oUicers  and  a  son 
of  P)()one. 

The  outrages  of  the  savages  were,  soon  after  this,  sig- 
nally punished.  General  Clarke,  at  the  head  of  a  thousand 
men,  rendezvousing  at  Fort  Washington,  where  Cincinnati 
now  stands,  invaded  the  Indian  territory.  The  inhabitants 
flei],  in  terror,  at  the  approach  of  so  formidable  an  army 


f*.i 


■     I  .'    '  ,   ' 


P  II  i  « 


/'   it 


'  I 


•I  .i-  ' 


H         !  I 


lil^ 


I 


304 


INDIAN  UACKri  OF  AMKIUCA. 


l(!iivin;^  t,li(;ir  towns  to  Lo  (l(3str()yc(l.  "  Wc  coiitinnnl  our 
pursuit,"  suys  lioouc,  who  was  with  the,  anny,  "thnjuch 
(iv(;  towns  oil  tho  Miami  river— Ohl  Chilicothc,  I'ouwav 
N(!W  (Jhili(3otho,  Willis'  Towns,  and  (.-hilicdtlic  hiniit 
them  all  to  ash(^s,  entirely  destroyed  their  eorii,  and  otliir 
(Vuiis,  and  every  where  s[)read  a  scene  of  desolation  in  tli'' 
country." 

After  liostilitics  between  Knj^dand  and  America  \\\\\ 
(•cased,  Llieso  western  tribes  of  Indians  still  eontinucil  to 
molest  th(!  border  irdialntants  of  the  eoloiues,  Attnujits 
(o  brin^'  about  eonf(!renees  failed  signally  in  jirodmin/ 
any  iiuirked  or  permanent  benefit,  and  it  was  dctcrminrfl 
by  th(!  government  to  humbU;  tluMu  by  force  of  arms. 

In  the  autumn  of  17!>1,  (leneral  Ilarmar  mai'c.licd  into 
tin;  Indian  territories,  at  the  head  of  nearly  fifteen  iiundivil 
men.  The  campaign  was  sigmdly  unsuccessful.  The  anny 
rclurned  to  Fort  Washington,  disj)ii'ited  and  broken  (Idwh, 
having  su.stained  a  heavy  loss  in  men  and  officers,  aii'l 
with  lh(!  mortifying  consciousness  of  an  utter  failure  in 
the  aceomplisluncmt  of  the  end  in  view. 

^^■'ljor-^I(!neral  Artliur  St.  Clair  was  njipoiiitef]  to  llic 
command  of  the  next  expedition.  ^Vith  a  force  of  moiv 
than  two  thousand  men,  he  inareh(Ml  towards  the  Tii'liim 
settlements,  and  on  the  od  of  November,  (1701,)  (■!ic;iiii|ic.l 
within  (iftcen  miles  of  the  Miami  villages.  On  his  way 
fi'DUi  r'ort  Washington  to  this  ]ioint,  he  had  built  am] 
gari'isoiied  Forts  Hamilton  and  Jefferson.  P>y  this  re<liic. 
lion  of  his  troops,  and  by  a  more  extensive  loss  f'roia  t'lic 
dcsciiioii  of  some  hundreds  of  cowardly  militia,  he  hail,  at 
the  time  of  which  we  arc  speaking,  l)Ut  jibout  fourteen 
hundred  effective  soldiers. 

The  confederate  Indian  tribes  kept  themselves  ])cifcetly 

nfjrmed,   by  their  scouting  parties,  of  all  the  enemy's 

movements,  and,  emboldened  by  recent  success,  prepand 

£o  give  the  advancing  army  a  warm  reception.     The  pri:!- 


1 


iiml  our 
tliruiigh 

:— Itliriit  I 

I<1  Otlirr  I 

Ml  in  til"  . 

I 
I 
I 

•ic;i  ]\;\i\  ' 

'Oilllcilig  I 

cniiiiit'il  , 

•ins.  I 
it'(l  into 
liiindrcd 
he  itnnv 
II  il'Avn, 

ors,  uijil  I 

iliire  ill  i 

I 

to   11p'  ' 
inor'' 

ii'liiiii  i 

;ilil[»''l  i 

is  \v;iv 

■  t 

L  ;inil  j 

rcdni'-  ! 


¥ 


Mill  tli<: 

i;i<l,  ;it 

)nrteeii 


■f.'ctly 
ii'inv's 

J  prin- 


'i 


(I 


''     ill 


I  " 


ft',, 

I'   ■ 


Cllllvl^'  OF  TllK  DELAW  AUES. 


Nil:  I>i;i,AWAKKS,  HIIAWANKKS,  KTC. 


C05 


cijial  liMilrr  of  tli(!  uiiitcil  nations,  was  the  ccli'ltnituil 
Miami  cliii'f",  Mil  liikiiKKiUii,  or  liitllo  'I'lirtlc.  llo  wasoiio 
of  tliu  i^ft'ati'st  wjirrions  and  most  sa^^'at'ious  rulers  cvci 
kivnvii  among  tlio  ivd  nirn,  ami  Ik;  had  now  an  ojipor- 
tuiiity  lor  tilt'  full  display  of  his  abilities.  An  imnu'nso 
lionli'  of  lirrcc  Huvagcs,  impationt  for  war,  was  nndrr  his 
ooiitiol,  and  his  movoincnts  were  scjcondcd  by  ablo  sidjor- 
ilimitc's.  Among  these,  the  most  noted  were  IJuekonga- 
li'-Ias,  now  war  chief  of  the  Delawares,  and  lUue-.Iacket, 
tho  Shawiinee.  Aeeording  to  Colonel  Stone,  the  great 
.Mohawk  ohif'f,  Josejjh  Brant,  'riiaycndanegea,  was  also 
1  resent,  lending  tho  lussistancc  of  his  counsel  and  ai'ms. 
lliiroiis  or  W'yandots,  Iroquois,  Ottawas,  Pottawatomii!S, 
Cliipj)ewas,  Miamics,  Delawares,  and  Shawanees,  with  u 
■t  of  minor  tribes,  were  (lolleeted  to  repel  the  <;ommon 


tin 


criomy.  The  number  of  their  warriors  assembletl  on  tli(^ 
present  0(.'casion  is  estimated  to  liavc  been  about  liftecn 
liuii(lr(;(l,  although  some;  have  set  it(h)wn  at  twice  that  fore*'. 

Before  the  I'ising  of  the  sun,  on  the  following  day,  (Xo- 
vernher  4th,)  the  savages  fell  upon  vhe  camp  of  tlu;  whites. 
Never  was  a  more  decisive  victory  obtair'cch  In  vain  ilid 
the  American  general  and  his  olficers  exert  themselves  to 
maintain  order,  and  to  rally  tin;  bewildered  troo))S.  '{'he 
lii'lians,  firing  from  covert,  thinned  the  ranks  ami  jiicked 
off  the  onicurs  by  a  continuous  and  murderous  discharge. 
A  disorderly  retreat  was  the  result:  Artillery,  baggage, 
and  no  small  portion  of  the  small  arms  of  the  militia,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  exultant  pursuers.  l''ort  .lelTci'son 
was  nearly  thirty  miles  distant,  and  thither  the  defeateil 
army  directed  its  flight.  The  Indians  followed  close  u]>oii 
the  fugitives,  cutting  down  and  destroying  at  will,  until, 
as  is  reported,  one  of  their  chiefs  called  out  to  them  to 
"stop,  as  they  had  killed  enough!" 

The  temptation  offered  by  the  plunder  to  be  obtained  at 
tho  camp  induced  the  Indians  to  return,  and  the  remnant 


t 


r  ; 


'■■\f 


ii! 


.1 


mf 


'       I  ! 


^1-;    , 


r  r  -•  r 


fit         '■     Ht.;    U     >■ 


^'i  I*'  ''  ■■'  11.  ft- 


sr.c 


INDIAN  KACP:S  of  AMElilCA. 


of  the  inviidin.q-  army  readied  Fort  Jefferson  about  sunset 
The  loss,  in  this  battle,  on  the  part  of  the  whites,  was  i.o 
less  than  eight  hundred  and  ninety-four!  in  killed,  woundt'd 
Dr  missing.  Thirty-eight  oilieers,  and  five  hundred  and 
ninety-three  non-commissioned  oflicers  and  privates  were 
slain  or  missing.  The  Indians  lost  but  few  of  their  men, 
judging  from  a  comparison  of  the  dill'erent  accounts,  not 
much  over  fifty. 

At  the  deserted  camp  the  victorious  tribes  took  up  their 
quarters,  and  delivered  themselves  up  to  riot  and  exulta- 
tion. General  Scott,  with  a  regiment  of  mounted  Kentuekv 
volunteers,  drove  them  from  the  spot  a  few  weeks  later, 
with  the  loss  of  their  plunder  and  of  some  two  hundred  of 
their  warriors. 

No  further  important  movement  was  made  to  overthrow 
the  power  of  the  Indians  for  nearly  three  years  from  thi.s 
period.  Negotiation  proved  utterly  fruitless  with  a  I'aco 
of  savages  inflated  by  their  recent  brilliant  successes,  and 
consequently  exhorbitant  in  their  demands.  When  it  was 
finally  evident  tliat  nothing  but  force  could  check  the 
continuance  of  border  murders  and  robbery,  an  army  \vas 
collected,  and  put  under  the  command  of  General  Wayiu', 
sometimes  called  "^lad  Anthony,"  in  a  rude  style  of  com- 
pliment to  his  energy  and  courage,  not  uncommon  in  those 
times.     The  Indians  denominated  him  the  "i^ lack-Snake." 

The  winter  of  IvDo-l  was  spent  in  fortifying  a  niilitarv 
]iost  at  Greenville,  on  the  Miami,  and  another,  namcil  I'oit 
I^ecovery,  upon  ^)ie  field  of  St.  Clair's  defeat.  The  last- 
mentioned  station  was  furiously  attacked  by  the  Indians, 
assisted  by  certain  Canadians  and  English,  on  the  oOthof 
the  following  June,  but  without  success.  It  was  not  until 
August,  (1794,)  that  General  Wayne  felt  himself  sufficiently 
n'inforced,  and  his  military  posts  sufficiently  strengthened 
and  supplied,  to  justify  active  operations  in  the  enemy's 
country. 


.  iii 


THE  DELAWAllES,  SIIAWANEKS,  ETC. 


3r,7 


"When  tlic  army  wasoiicc  put  in  motion,  important  and 
decisive  events  rapidly  suececded.  Th(3  march  was  di- 
rected into  tlic  lieait  of  the  Indian  settlements  on  the 
Miami,  now  called  Maumee,  a  river  emptying  into  the 
western  extremity  of  Lahc  Erie.  Where  the  beautiful 
stream  An  Glaise  empties  into  this  rivei',  a  f  )rt  was  imme- 
diately erected,  and  named  Fort  Delianee.  From  this  post 
General  Wayne  sent  emissaries  to  invite  the  hostile  na- 
tions to  negotiation,  but  the  ])ridc  and  rancor  of  the  In- 
dians prevented  any  favorable  results.  Little  Turtle, 
iiKleed,  seemed  to  forebode  the  impending  storm,  and  ad- 
vised the  acceptance  of  the  terms  oll'ered.  "The  Ameri- 
cans," said  he,  "are  now  led  by  a  chief  who  never  sleejis: 
the  night  and  the  day  are  alike  to  him.  ■"  '^  Thiidc  wel; 
(if  it.  There  is  something  whispers  me  it  would  be  pru- 
dent to  listen  to  his  offers  of  peace.'' 

The  British,  at  this  time,  in  defiance  of  their  treaties 
with  the  United  States,  still  maintained  possession  of  va- 
rious military  posts  at  the  west.  A  strong  f  irt  and  gai-ri- 
soii  was  established  by  them  near  the  Miami  ni})ids,  aiul 
in  that  vicinity  the  main  body  of  the  Indian  wai'riors  was 
encantped.  Above,  and  below  the  i\merieau  eamp,  thi" 
Miami,  and  .\u  (ilaisc,  according  to  Wayne's  dispatches, 
presented,  f  )r  miles,  the  ap})earance  of  a  single  vilhig'^ 
and  rich  corn-fields  S})i'ead  on  either  side.  "[  have  in'ver 
i^een,"  says  the  writer,  "such  innnense  fields  (jf  corn  in 
any  part  of  America,  from  Canada  to  Florida." 

Negotiations  proved  futile:  the  Indians  were  cvidentlv 
bent  on  Avar,  and  only  favored  delay  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  their  full  force.  General  Wayne  therefji'o 
marched  upon  them,  and,  on  the  20111  of  the  mon^^^h,  a  ter- 
rible battle  was  fought,  in  wdiich  the  allied  tribes  were 
totally  defeated  and  dispersed.  The  Indians  greatly  out- 
numbered their  opponents,  and  had  taken  their  usual  pre- 
cautions in  selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  defence.     They 


'II'  I' . 


f  f 


» 


tii-ft 


308 


INDI.VN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


,'  f.H 


il^f  ■ . 


could  not,  liowover,  resist  tlio  attack  of  brave  and  dist'i- 
pliiu'd  tr(jo[js,  directed  by  so  experienced  and  skillful  a 
icadei'  as  Wayne.  'J'lie  fight  terminated — in  the  words  of 
the  oflicial  dispatch — "under  the  guns  of  tlie  JJi'itish  car. 
rison.  *  '^'  'Jdie  woods  were  strewed,  for  a  consideraljle  dis- 
tance, Avith  the  dead  bodies  of  Indians  and  their  white 
auxiliaries;  the  latter  armed  with  British  muskets  '.ad 
bayonets." 

Some  days  "were  now  spent  in  laying  waste  the  fields 
and  villages  of  the  miserable  savages,  whose  spirit  seemed 
to  be  com])letely  broken  by  this  reverse.  By  the  first  of 
January  following,  the  influence  of  Little  Turtle  and  Buek- 
ongahelas,  both  of  whom  saw  the  folly  of  further  cpiarrels 
with  the  United  States,  and  the  hopelessness  of  reliance 
upon  England,  negotiations  for  peace  were  commenced, 
and,  in  August,  (171)5,)  a  grand  treaty  w^^'.  concluded  at 
Greenville. 


WM'!'; 


CHAPTER  III. 


CONDITION     OF    THE     INDIANS     SUBSEQUENT     TO    THE     PEACK — THE 
PROPHET  ELSKWATAWA — TECUMSKH  :    HIS  PLANS  AND  INTKIOUKS 

GENEKAL  IIAHRIS'iN's    EXI'EDITION  AGAINST  THE  IUOPHIvT's 

TOWN DKI'EAT  OF  THE    INDIANS  AT  TIPPECANOE WAK  OF 

18r2 IIAKHISON's    invasion    of    CANADA — BATTLE    OF 

THE  THAMES,  AND  DEATH  OF  TECUMSEH. 

Kearly  ten  years  of  peace  succeeded  the  treaty  of 
Greenville,  an  interval  which  proved  little  less  destructive 
to  the  tribes  of  the  north-west  than  the  desolations  of  their 
last  calamitous  war.  ^Fhc  devastating  influence  of  intem- 
perance was  never  more  fearfully  felt  than  in  the  experi- 
ence of  these  Indian  nations  at  the  period  wdiosc  history 


■   -r 

1 

J 

1 

1 

1 

t'  ' 

I 


\  ,>\ 


t 


^  piW'i 

1 

1 

n 


I'll 


vrt-  '■'  ■ 


1    i'jfJ'i'El 


1 
■■     1    ' 

i 

i 

:    1 

I;- 

i 

1 
1 

1 

1, 

]■  . 

1 

hr     :. 

1      ;, 

• 

k. 


Sl'Hi 


■^ 


I 


t 


I: 


m 


W\ 


ii 


r''   I 


Hi 

1;    I  '■ 

1 

TECVMSRH 


THK  DEr.AW'AIlKS,  SUAWANEE:^,  ETC. 


.'300 


we  are  now  rooortliii^i^.  Geiicnil  TFjirrison,  thon  c(»nrni.s- 
sionor  for  Indian  afl'airs,  reported  tlieir  condition  in  tlio 
following  t'Tiiis:  "So  destructive  lias  Lecn  the  j)n>gresH 
of  iiitcnipcraneo  among  them,  that  whole  villagi's  have 
been  sw'f'pt  away.  A  miserable  remnant  is  all  that  i-eiiiains 
to  mark  the  names  and  situation  of  many  nunierous  and 
warlike  tribes.  In  tlic  energetic  language  of  one  of  th'  ir 
orators,  it  is  a  dreadful  conflagration,  which  spreads  misery 
and  desolation  through  their  country,  and  threatens  the 
annihilation  of  the  whole  race." 

While  this  deadly  evil  was  constantly  increasing,  in  the 
year  180-1,  a  distinguished  Indian  orator  began  to  exeile  a 
wide-spread  discontent  among  the  nations  of  the  former 
north-western  confederacy,  ^riiis  was  tlic  self-sty k'd  pn  )jih- 
ct,  Klskwatawa,  Olliwayshila,  or  Olliwachaca.  Abtjut  the 
ye;ir  1770,  a  woman  of  one  of  the  southern  tribes,  domes- 
tic;itod  with  the  Shawanees,  according  to  report,  beeanu! 
mother  to  three  children  at  a  single  birth,  who  rceived 
the  names  of  Tecumseif,  Klskwatawa,  and  Kumshaka — • 
the  last  being  unknown  to  fame.  Their  father,  u  Shawa- 
ncc  warrior,  jierished  in  the  great  battle  at  Point  Pleasant. 
IJy  the  time  that  'I'ecumseh  had  attained  the  age  of  man- 
li<iod,  he  had  already  become  noted  as  a  bold  and  sa^jncions 
warrior.  For  j^ears  before  the  overthrow  of  th(>,  Indian 
f)ower  by  (Jcneral  Wayne,  he  had  been  foremost  in  the 
incursions  which  spread  desolation  throughout  the  western 
settlements;  and  when  the  peace,  concluded  at  (ire(mvill(\ 
deprived  him  of  a  field  for  warlike  enterprise,  he  only 
retired  to  brood  over  new  mischief,  and,  in  eonjuneti(.)u 
with  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  to  excite  a  more  extensive 
C()!ispiracy  than  had  ever  before  been  perfected. 

AVith  consummate  art,  Elskwatawa  exposed  the  evils 
attendant  on  the  white  man's  encroachments,  exhorting  to 
sobi'iety  and   a  universal  union  for  resistance.     If*^,  pro- 
claimed  himself  especially  commissioned   by  the  Gix^at 
24 


r 


i  i 


,'  f 


ti 


I.: 


Mn' :: 


l\ 


fi'* 


m^ 


li€: 


ji  • 


.  .      'f^  i-«l 


:!<<1     '! 


.  I'i 


'    I 


■  t 

4' 


370 


INDIAN  UACES  OF  AMElilCA. 


Sjurit  to  foretell,  and  to  hasten,  by  liis  own  ellorts,  tho 
destruction  of  the  intruders,  and  by  various  ajtpcals  to  tho 
vanity,  tho  superstition,  and  the  spirit  of  revenge,  of  lii.s 
ai^ditors,  ho  ae(piired  a  strong  and  enduring  inllu(Miee, 
"^^I'lie  cliiefs  who  opposed  or  ridiculed  his  ])reten.si(jns  were 
denounced  as  wizards  or  sorcerers,  and  })roofs,  satisl'actory 
to  the  minds  of  the  Indians,  being  adduced  in  snj)p(^it  of 
the  accusation,  numbers  perished  at  the  stake,  leaving  a 
clear  field  for  the  operations  of  the  impostor. 

'J'ecumseh,  meanwhile,  was  not  idle.  Jt  is  said  that  the 
noted  Seneca  chief,  Ked-Jacket,  lirst  counselled  him  to  .^et 
about  the  work  to  which  he  devoted  his  life,  holdinu  out 
to  him  the  tempting  j)rospect  of  a  recovery  of  the  rich 
and  extensive  valley  of  the  ^lississippi  from  th(!  jxjssi's- 
sion  of  the  whites.  Whatever  originated  the  idea  in  his 
mind,  he  lent  all  the  powerful  energy  of  his  eharactiT  to 
its  accom})lishment.  The  tribes  concerned  in  the  pi(>j)usiMl 
out-break  were  mostlv  the  same  that  had  in  earlirr  tinu'S 
been  aroused  b}^  Pontiac,  and  had  again  united,  umliT 
Michikinaqua,  as  we  have  seen  in  the  preceding  eh,i]itiT. 
Tho  undertaking  of  IVeumseh  and  his  brother  was  iiui  of 
easy  or  speedy  accom])lishmcnt,  but  their  unwcai'ied  cllbrts 
and  high  natural  endowments  gradually  gave  them  both 
an  unprecedented  ascendancy  over  the  minds  of  the  Indi;ins. 
In  1807,  the  new  movement  among  the  AYestei'u  Indiaii-s 
called  for  attention  on  tho  part  of  the  United  States,  ami 
General,  then  Governor,  Harrison  dispatched  a  message  of 
warning  and  re})roach  to  the  leading  men  of  tli 


.  <i 


lawa- 


nee  tribe,  "^riie  })rophet  dictated,  in  reply,  a  letter,  in  whieli 
he  denied  the  charges  circulated  against  him,  and  stronu- 
ously  asserted  that  nothing  was  farther  from  his  thonght.s 
than  any  design  of  creating  a  disturbance.  In  the  siiiiv 
merof  the  following  year  this  subtle  intriguer  established 
himseU'  i  the  Tippecanoe  river,  a  tributary  of  the  \\  a- 
bash,  in  .ae  northern  part  of  the  state  of  Indiana. 


TilK  DKF.AWAUKS,  SIIA\VANB:KS,  ETC. 


371 


From  tliis  place,  wlicro  ho  lived  surrounded  by  a  crowd 
of  admiring  iollowers,  the  Prophet  j)roee('led  shortly  afttn* 
to  \'iiiccnnes,  and  spent  some  time  in  comm,uiieatiou  with 
Governor  Harrison,  for  the  purpose  oTdisarmih;,'sus[iieion. 
lie  eontiniially  insisted  that  the  whole  object  of  his  }>reaeh- 
iiig  to  the  Indians  was  to  persuade  them  to  relinquish  their 
vices,  and  lead  sober  and  peaceable  lives;  and  to  this  effect 
be  often  exhorted  his  people  in  the  presence  of  the  United 
States'  government  oflicials. 

In  Se]itcmber,  of  1809,  Avhile  Tccumseh  was  pushing 
his  intrigues  among  various  distant  tribes.  Governor  Har- 
rison obtained  a  cession,  for  certain  stipulate(l  annuities, 
of  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  lower  j^ortion  of  the 
Wuhash,  from  the  tribes  of  the  Miamis,  iJelawares,  Potta- 
watomies,  and  Kickapoos.  On  Tccumseh's  return  in  the 
following  year,  lie,  with  his  brother,  maile  vehement  re- 
monstrances against  this  proceeding,  and  a  somewhat 
stormy  interview  took  place  between  the  great  chief  and 
Governor  Harrison,  each  party  being  attended  by  a  })ow- 
crful  armed  force.  Upon  this  occasion,  Tccumseh  first 
openly  avowed  his  design  of  ft)rming  an  universal  coali- 
tion of  the  Indian  nations,  by  which  the  progress  of  the 
whites  westward  should  be  arrested,  but  he  still  insisted 
that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  make  war.  One  great 
principle  which  he  endeavored  to  enforce  was  that  no  In- 
dian lands  should  be  sold,  except  by  con?-cnt  of  all  the 
confederate  tribes.  Two  days  after  this  conferetice  he 
started  for  the  south,  with  a  few'  attendant  warriors,  to 
spread  disaffection  among  the  Creeks,  Cherokecs,  and  other 
tribes  of  the  southern  states. 

In  the  following  year,  (1811,)  during  the  prolonged, 
absence  of  Tccumseh,  and  contrary,  as  is  supjtosed,  to  his 
express  instructions;  bold  and  audacious  depredations  and 
imuders  were  committed  by  the  horde  of  savages  gathered 
at  the  Prophet's  town.     Pepresentations  w^erc  forwarded 


,1 


Ih 


I;  ■./■ 
ill  ., 


^i 


1  ij'i 


\       I 


■r-^t 


m 


r! 


I, 


■■% 


372 


INDIAN"    HACKS   OV  AMKIMCA. 


to  Wasliiii;^ton  of  tlio  necessity  for  active  moa.suros  in  re* 
straiiit  of  these  outrages,  and  a  regiment,  under  Colonel 
I'oyd,  was  j)romptly  marched  from  Pittsburg  to  \'ir,''enii('s 
and  phieed  under  the  command  of  Harrison.  With  tlii.s 
force,  and  a  body  of  militia  and  volunteers,  the  whole 
amounting  to  about  nine  liundred  iucmi,  the  governor 
marched  from  Fort  Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  for  the 
I'roplict's  town,  on  the  28th  of  October.  He  had  jirevi- 
ously  made  various  attempts,  through  the  intervention  of 
some  friendly  Delaware  and  Miami  chiefs,  to  bring  about 
a  negotiation,  a  restoration  of  the  stolen  projK'rty,  and  u 
delivery  up  of  the  murderers;  but  his  emissaries  were 
treated  with  contempt  and  his  proposals  spurned. 

The  march  was  eonduct/cd  with  the  greatest  militarv 
skill.  A  feint  was  made  of  taking  up  the  line  of  ni:uv|i 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  river;  after  which,  the  wlmli'. 
army  crossed  the  stream,  and  hastened  towards  tlic  hostile 
settlement  through  the  extensive  prairies,  stretching  far- 
ther than  the  eye  could  reach  toward  the  west.  On  the 
5th  of  November,  having  met  with  no  opj)osition  on  the 
route,  Harrison  encamped  within  nine  miles  of  the  Propii- 
et's  town.  Approaching  the  town  on  the  ensuing  day, 
various  futile  attempts  were  made  to  open  a  conferenet!. 
Menaces  and  insults  were  the  only  reply  to  these  overtures. 
Before  the  troops  reached  the  town,  however,  messengers 
from  Elskwatav/a  came  forward,  proposing  a  truce,  and 
the  arrangement  for  a  conference  upon  the  following  day. 
The  chief  averred  that  he  had  sent  a  pacific  embassy  to 
the  governor,  but  that  those  charged  with  the  mission  had 
gone  down  the  river  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  thus  iidsscd 
him.  Harrison  assented  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  until 
the  next  day,  but  took  wise  precautions  for  security  against 
a  treacherous  night  attack. 

The  suspicions  of  the  prudent  general  proved  to  be  avoII- 
founded.     The  darkness  of  the  night  favored  the  designs 


m 


TIIK  DKLAWAUKS,  HUAWANKKS,   KTC. 


oi  < 


nf  till'  Iiidiiiiis,  and,  Ix'lorc  day-break,  about  four  o'clock, 
the  aluriii  of  an  attack  was  <,mvcii.  Im  the  words  of  (jiio  of 
Harrison's  bio^^raphers:  "'I'lio  trouclicroua  Indians  had 
stealthily  crept  up  n(!ar  (»ur  sentries,  with  tiie  intention  of 
rusiiiiii,'  uiKiii  tlicin  and  killing  them  bi^fore  they  could 
give  the  alarm,  iiut  fortunately  one  of  the  sentries  dis- 
covohmI  an  Indian  creeping  towards  him  throu^di  the  grass, 
mid  Ih-ed  at  him.  'J'his  was  imrnediatelv  followed  by  the 
Indian  y(dl,  and  a  furious  charge  upon  tlie  left  flaidv." 

The  onset  of  the  Indians,  stimulated  as  thev  were  bv 
the  assurances  of  their  jir()j)liet,  that  certain  success  awaited 
them,  was  un])recedented  for  fury  and  determination. 
They  numbered  from  five  liun(b'i'd  to  a  thousand,  and 
were  led  by  White  Loon,  Stonc-Katcr,  and  a  treacherous 
I'dttawatomic  cliief  named  Winnernac.  Tiie  Proj»het  took, 
personally,  no  share  in  tlu;  engagement.  1'he  struggle  coii- 
tiiuted  tmtil  daydight,  when  the  a.'^sailants  were  driven  olf 
and  disj)er.<(>d.  (Ireat  praise  has  been  deservedly  awanhnl 
to  the  commanding  oHiccr  of  the  wdiites  for  his  steady 
courage  and  generalship  during  the  trying  .«!cenes  of  this 
niglit's  encounter.  The  troojis,  althougli  no  small  num- 
ber of  them  were  now,  for  the  first  ti;ne,  in  [ictive  scrvi(!e, 
disj)layed  great  lirmness  and  bravery.  The  imlians  im- 
nie(hately  abandoned  their  town,  which  the  army  i>roceeded 
to  destroy,  tearing  down  the  fortifications  and  burning  the 
buildings.  T\\e  obj(H-t  of  the  expedition  being  thus  I'ully 
accomphshed,  the  troo|)s  were  marched  back  to  Vincennes. 

In  the  battle  at  Tippecanoe,  the  h)ss  of  the  victors  was 
probably  greater  than  tliat  of  the  savages,  ^riiirty-eight 
of  the  hitter  ■^vere  left  dead  upon  tlie  field:  of  the  wdiitcs, 
fifty  were  kibed,  and  nearly  one  hundred  wounded.  It  is 
not  to  be  suppo.sed  that  the  Prophet's  infiuence  maintained 
its  former  hohl  upon  liis  followers  after  this  defeat.  He 
takes  indeed,  from  this  time  forward,  a  place  in  history 
entirely  subordinate  to  his  w\arlike  and  powerful  brother. 


''i 

iilk  1 M 

r 

1' 

1 7  w 

' 

,;ir  ■ 

,1:     ' 


■\  ': 


rr  T 


871 


INDIAN   RACKS  oF  AMKKK'A. 


m: 


All  iiit.'i'\;il  dl"  ciiinicil'atiN f  i[iii*'l  silcct'cilcil  tliis  i.vor- 
throw  III"  tlir  I'ldplict's  CMiiriMiti'alt'd  loi'iics,  a  (|iiii't  dcrt* 
tiiuMl  to  lie  Immucii  Ky  ii  llir  iiion;  oxtciisive  ami  disastruus 
war.  W'lii'ii  ii|M'ii  liostililies  ('oiiimfii('('(l  licturcn  l'ji.;l;iii(l 
and  till-  I'liilcd  States,  in  ISl'J,  it,  was  at  once  cviilcut  iliat 
tlic  lurnicr  ('i)mitry  liad  piirsiifil  her  oM  |M»liry  of  loii-iir^r 
np  tlir  sa\  a;j('S  to  ravage  our  dcfiMicolt'SS  Irontjcr,  wiili 
unprcredL'iik'd  siu:ct'8S.  'Icounseli  proved  a  inoiv  \;i|ii. 
able  coadjiitoi",  if  pos.sii)le,  than  l>i'ant  had  l»e<'ii  during' 
the  ivvolution,  in  uniting  the  dill'erent  nations  aL:aiii,>t 
till!  American  interests. 

'I'o  ])ai'ticulari/o  the  j)art  taken  Ly  this  great  wariinr 
and  statesman  in  the  war,- would  involve  too  jirolnnnvd  a 
deseription  oC  the  various  ineiilents  of  the  western  cim- 
paigns.  By  eoun.sel  and  persuasion ;  by  courage  in  laitlc; 
and  by  the  energy  of  a  j)owerful  mind  devoted  to  the  caii.>^o 
lie  luxd  esj)oused,  lie  continued  until  hi.s  death  to  aiil  his 
Mnglish  allies,  A  sti'ong  lii'itish  fortress  at  Maiden,  on  iIk; 
eastern  or  Canada  shore  of  Detroit  river,  jH'cjved  a  reiidc/.- 
vous  f(jr  the  hostile  Indians,  of  the  utmost  danger  In  the 
inlial)itants  of  the  noi'th-wesfern  frontiiT.  The  placi'  \\;i.s 
under  the  conmiand  of  tin;  British  General  Proctor;  the 
oflieer  whose  infamous  neglect  or  countenance  le(l  to  tin! 
massacre  of  a  body  of  wounded  pri.sonors  at  l''reiicliti'\vii, 
on  the  river  llaisin,  in  January,  iSlu.  This  post  was 
abandoned  by  the  Bi'itish  and  Indians,  about  the  time  of 
the  invasion  of  Canada,  in  September,  of  the  above  year, 
by  the  American  troops  under  ITai'ri.son.  The  invadiiiL,' 
army  cncam])ed  at  the  (h'.serted  and  dismantled  ]()itn'ss, 
"from  which  had  issued,  for  years  past,  those  ruthless 
bands  of  savages,  which  had  swe])t  so  fiercely  over  our 
extended  frontier,  leaving  death  and  destruction  only  in 
their  path." 

General  Harrison  hastened  in  pur.niit  of  the  enemy  up 
the  Thames  river,  and,  on  the  4th  of  October,  ei'cani'ijda 


'II IK  DKl.AWAKKS,  SHAWANKKS,  KTC. 


875 


fi^w  mill's  ii1)()V0  tlio  fork"!  of  the  rivor,  and  orortod  a  sliu'lit 
fortilicatioii.  On  the:  Hfli,  tlic  nicrnorablc  battle  of  tin; 
Tliaiiif'S  was  fon^lit.  (iciifi-al  Proctor  awaited  the  ap- 
Iii'Diicli  of  ttic  American  forces  at  a  place  chosen  by  hinisclf, 
iu;ir  Moravian  town,  as  jjresentini;  a  favorable;  position  for 
a  st;iiid.  His  forces,  in  rcL^ihirs  ami  Indians,  ratlicr  out- 
!iniiib('re(l  those  of  his  opponents,  being  set  down  at  two 
thousand eiglitlnindred;  the  Aincricans  iuiin])ered  twenfy- 
fivc  hniKb'cd,  tnostl}'  militia  and  voluntt>ers.  ^Plie  Hriti.-li 
;iriiiy  "was  (lanked,  on  the  left,  by  the  river  Thames,  and 
supported  by  ai'tillery,  and  on  th(>  ri,<,dit  by  two  (>xtensiv(> 
s\v:uii]>s,  runnim^  ncai'ly  ])arallel  to  the  river,  and  occnpied 
ly  a  stronu;  body  of  Indians,  *  *  I'lie  Indians  were 
Cdimnanded  by  '^reeuinseli  in  person." 

The  l)ritish  lino  was  broken  by  tlu^  first  charL''e  of  Colonel 
.T.iluison's  mounted  regiment,  and  being  thrown  info  iri'c- 
tii'  vable  dis(jrdcr,  the  troops  were  unable  to  rally,  or 
oppose  any  furtluM'  (^ileetive  resistance.  Nearly  the  wlioh? 
army  snrnmdered  at  discretion.  Pi'octor,  with  a  few  c(.m- 
j'anions,  cIVecteNl  liis  escape.  The  Indians,  ])n)t"ctcd  by 
the  covert  where  they  were  ])osted,  wen^  not  so  (\isilv  dis- 
loilifcd.  They  maintained  their  })osition  nntil  after  tlu; 
defeat  of  their  Knglish  associates  and  the  denth  of  their 
hravc  leader.  By  whose  haml  '^i'ecnniseh  fell,  does  not 
appear  to  be  decisively  settled;  l)ut,  acr-ording  to  the  (or- 
dinarily received  account,  he  was  rushing  upon  Colonel 
Johnson,  with  liis  tomahawk,  wlu'u  the  latter  shot  him 
dead  with  a  pistol. 

This  battle  was,  in  effect,  tlic  conclusion  of  the  nr)rtli- 
western  Indian  war.  Deputations  from  various  tribes 
aplK'ared  suing  for  jieace;  and  during  this  and  the  ensuing 
year,  when  Generals  Harrison  and  (Jass,  with  (K)vernor 
Shelby,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  treat  with  the 
North-western  tribes,  important  treaties  were  effected. 

Tecumsch  was  buried  near    the  tield   of  battl(>,  .and  a 


I 


iT 


»  , 


4  i,^mJ ' 


i  • 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  A.MKIllCA. 


moMiid  still  iiuirks  his  jL^nivc.  The  lirilish  govcMiineiit^ 
not  unrniiKlful  of  his  services,  gnuitcd  ;i  p(Misi()ii  to  his 
widow  iuid  faiuily,  as  well  as  to  the  Prophet  I'^lskwatawa. 


ClIAPTEU   IV. 

ACQUISITION   AND   SALE,    I!Y    THK  UMTICI)  STATKS,  OF  INDIAN  I,ANI)S 

Ii\  IIJ-INOIS lil.ACK'-HAWK THE  SACS  1!  lOK  IVK  I)  WKST  OF  TIIK 

MISSISSIIM'I ilKTUHN  OF   lil.ACK-Il A WK  AND  HIS  FOLLOW- 

Kits DKFKAT    OF    MAJOIt    STHJ.MAN — Till-:     IIOSTILK 

INDIANS    ITHSKKD   HY    ATKINSON    AND   DOIKiK 

TnF;iR  di:fi;aton  tiif  hank  of  tmk  .-missis- 
sippi — ulack-hawk's  sukufndkk — 

HI-:  ISTAKKN  to   .     VSIIlNtiTOiN — ■ 

ins  sui5sf:quknt  cakkkk. 

With  the  ra})id  inercjiseof  a  white  ]H)pulatioii  hetwivn 
the  Lakes  and  the  Mississippi,  which  followed  the  ron- 
elusion  of  hostilities  with  England  and  her  Indian  allirs, 
new  dilficulties  began  to  arise  between  the  natives  and 
the  settlers.  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  were  inhal.Mtcil  hv 
A'urious  tribes  of  Indians,  upon  terms  of  bitter  liostiliiv 
among  themselves,  but  united  in  their  suspicions  aii'l 
a[)prehensions  at  the  UDprecedented  inroads  of  emiLii'aiits 
from  the  east. 

The  Winiiebagos,  dwelling  in  Wisccuisin;  the  rottawat- 
omirs,  situated  arcjund  the  southern  cvtremity  of  Lake 
Michigan;  and  the  Sacs,  (afterwards  mingled  with  tlic 
Foxes,  and  usually  couj)led  with  that  tribe,)  of  Illinois, 
],rincipally  located  u})on  Hock  river,  were  the  most  con- 
siderable of  these  uorth-western  tribes.  By  various  ces- 
sions, the  United  States  acquired,  in  the  early  l^Jirt  ol'  the 
present  century,  a  title  to  extensive  tracts  of  country,  lyiiii; 
east  of  the  Mississip})i,  and  included  in  the  present  stale  uf 


las  (■('>;■    I 


of  the 

I  : 

,  iviim' 

1 

late  of 

1 

J    1 

Till!:  DELAWAUES,  SirA\V.\:NEES,  KTC.  ;;77 

Illinois,  The  tribes  wlio  soUl  llie  laiul  \wvc  divided  in 
oj)iiiion;  jireat  numbers  of  the  oeeupants  of  the  s<iil  were 
utterly  opposed  to  its  alienation,  and  denied  the  autlK)i'ity 
of  the  ehiefs,  by  wliose  ne^^)tiation  the  sales  or  eessions 
^vero  ell'eeted;  and  upon  the  parerlHiiL,^  out  ami  thi'  sale 
hv  the  L'nited  States  government  oC  tliis  publie  pidpi'rty 
to  pi'ivate  individuals,  eonflieting  elaimssoon  knl  to  serious 
disturbanees. 

In  Jnlj,  of  18o0,  a  treaty  was  formed  at  Pi'airi<'  du 
Chien,  between  L'nited  States  eommissioners  and  the  tribes 
of  the  lowas,  Sioux,  Omawluus,  Saes  and  h'oxes,  iVc,  for  the 
piu'iwse  of  finally  arranging  the  terms  upon  wlTu'li  tla; 
laiuls  east  of  the  Mississipj)i  slu^dd  be  yie'lded  up.  TIk; 
Sac  ehit'f,  Keokuk,  was  j)resent,  and  assenting  to  the  ar- 
nuigenuMit  in  behalf  of  his  j)eopk';  but  a  strong  ]tarty, 
headed  by  the  eelebrated  IMaek-liawk,  \itterly  refused  to 
abide  by  it.  This  ehief  was  then  between  sixty  and  se\('nty 
years  of  age,  and  had  b(^cn,  from  eai'ly  youth,  a  noted 
warrior.  He  was  born  at  some  Indian  settlemiMit  upon 
the  IJoek  river,  and  i-etaincd  through  life  a  sti'oiig  altaeh- 
rnent  to  the  })laec  of  his  nativit}  and  the  stream  upon 
whose  banks  he  so  long  resided,  lie  was  a  rottawaton.ie, 
but  his  whole  life  was  sj)cnt  among  the  Saes. 

To  enforee  the  removal  of  the  Saes  from  their  villages, 
on  lloek  I'iver,  General  Gaines  visited  that  loeality  in 
June,  1831,  lie  })roeceded  uj)  tl;e  river  in  a  steamer,  with 
several  pieces  of  artillery  and  two  eoi.ipanies  of  inCantry. 
The  general  S[)okc  of  his  visit  as  follows:  "Their  village 
is  inuncdiately  on  lloek  river,  and  sositi  ated  that  I  eould, 
from  the  steamd)oat,  destroy  all  their  -)ark  houses,  (the 
onlv  kind  of  hou.ses  thev  have.)  in  a  few  uinutes,  with  the 
force  now  with  me,  probably  v\itliout  the  loss  of  a  man. 
But  I  am  resolved  to  abstain  from  firing  a  shot  without 
some  bloodshed,  or  some  manifest  attempt  to  .'•died  hlood, 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians.     I  have  alread\'  induced  nearly 


f;«": 


1   !•' 

j  ..;■; 


II 


WW 


''  1. '  .' 
•  t^  '■ 


'rtf 


'.;.  '-  mm 
!?'   I  ■'mm 


iiit! 


878 


I^'DUN  RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


one-third  of  them  to  cross  the  ^lississippi  to  their  own 
land.  ''I'lic  residue,  liowever,  say,  as  the  friendlj'  cliicls 
report,  tliat  tliey  never  will  move;  and,  what  is  v^rv  lui- 
coninKjn,  the  women  urge  their  hostile  husbands  to  li"lit 
rather  than  to  move,  and  thus  abandon  their  homes." 

Before  the  close  of  the  month  the  forces  of  the  Unitcil 
States  and  the  state  militia  took  po.ssession  of  the  si.'ttlt;- 
ment.  'J'lie  Indians  made  no  attempt  at  resistance,  aiul 
betook  themselves  to  the  western  bank  of  the  Mississijijii. 
In  the  S])ring  of  the  following  year,  the  Sacs  began  to 
straggle  back  to  their  old  towns  in  Illinois;  and  Black- 
Hawk,  with  a  eonsidei'ablo  force  of  his  warriors,  nmrclu-l 
np  Rock  river,  with  the  avowed  intent  of  s])ending  tlie 
smnmer,  and  raisi:'g  a  su}i])ly  of  corn  among  the  Polta'.va- 
tornies,  in  accou'.jncf  with  an  invitation  fi-om  that  tril)(\ 
He  j)rocecded  quietlv  and  peaceably  up  the  river,  oUcihi:,' 
no  violence  to  either  the  p(M'sons  or  j)roperty  of  the  wliito 
inhabitants.  A  body  of  mounted  militia,  under  Major 
Stillman,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  about  the  niiiMIo 
of  Afay.  On  their  a])])roach  to  his  temporary  (piaitrrs, 
Blaek-IIawk  sent  a  nundier  of  his  followers  to  niccl  ainl 
confer  with  the  eommandi'-g  olfieer;  but  it  so  ha]i]H'inil, 
either  through  mistalce  as  to  their  intentions,  or  i'vinn  u 
reckless  depravity  on  the  j)art  of  certain  of  the  whites, 
that  several  of  these  emissaries  were  killed. 

Boused  by  this  injurious  treatment,  the  Indian  fhirf 
prepared  to  fall  upon  his  pursuers  at  a  jxnnt  where  an 
am))uscade  could  be  rendered  most  eftective.  It  is  said 
that  when  the  militia  came  up,  he  had  but  about  iVmy 
warriors  with  him,  (the  rcstof  his  men  being  olf  in  pursuit 
of  game,)  while  tlie  whites  numbered  no  less  tliaii  two 
hundred  and  seventy!  As  these  undisciplined  troops  were 
crossing  Sycamore  creek,  in  entire  disorder,  and  without 
any  })reeaution  against  a  surprise,  they  were  fiercely  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians.     The  rout  \v as  complete:  uuall" 


THE  DELAWARES,  SIIAWAXEES,  ETC. 


379 


to  f(»rm,  or  to  ofTor  any  cfTectual  resistance,  tlic  wliitcd 
were  driven  oil",  leaving  eleven  of  their  number  'lead  uj)on 
the  Held.  As  they  again  rendezvoused  at  Dixon's  Ferry, 
tliii'tv  miles  below,  they  gave  the  most  ex'i,ravag;.ut  accounts 
of  the  numbers  of  the  enemy. 

Great  excitement  was  produced  by  this  skirmish,  and  a 
large  army  of  militia  was  called  into  service  by  (iovcrnor 
]{('vi!olds,  and  ordered  to  meet  by  the  10th  of  dune,  at 
Hennepin,  in  l*utnam  county,  o!i  the  Illinois,  .\gents 
were  s<Mit  to  confirm  the  good-will  of  the  Winnebagos, 
and  other  tribes,  and  the  services  of  several  hundred  of 
the  ]^[enomonies  and  Sioux  were  enlisted  against  the  dan- 
gerous intruders, 

bhiek-llawk  and  his  l)arty,  feeling  themselves  now 
fully  ei^mmitted,  were  not  slow  in  following  up  the  ad- 
vantage gained  by  the  te-ror  inspired  by  the  engagement 
at  Sycamore  Creek, 

Between  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  and  the  beginning 
of  the  month  of  August  the  Indians  committed  many 
murders,  and  various  skirmishes  took  jdace  between  them 
and  the  troo})s  sent  in  pursuit.  On  the  20th  of  May,  a  lit- 
tle settlement  on  Indian  Creek  was  plundered,  hifteen 
of  the  inhabitants  were  killed,  and  two  young  giils,  by 
'he  name  of  Hall,  one  sixteen  and  the  other  eighteen 
years  uf  age,  were  cai'ried  into  captivit}',  Accoi'ding  to 
tlie  almost  universal  custom  of  the  North  American  In- 
dians, these  female  prisonei's  were  not  exposed  t(.)  the 
slightest  insult  or  outrage,  but  were  as  well  cared  for  as 
circumstances  would  allow,  'fhey  were  afterwards  ran- 
somed, at  a  large  pri^e,  and  returned  to  their  fi'iends. 

iiittlc  mercy  was  ,shov/n  to  anv  of  J)lack-IIawk's  fcdlow- 
crs  upon  any  occasion  of  success  on  the  j)art  of  the  whites. 
Five  persons  were  kiih.nl  near  Galena  on  the  1-ltu  of  June, 
and,  slioi'tly^  after,  twelve  Imhans,  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  the  attacking  party,  were  pursued  and  driven  into  a 


^: 


r-r-f 


!■(    li"   i 


I* 


■■|  •  ''  I* 


380 


INDIAN   UACES  OF  AMERICA. 


nci.L:lil)oring  swamp.  When  overtaken,  altliouirli  ihev 
made  no  resistance,  tlie_y  were  everyone  killed  and  scalin"] 
Dy  the  whites. 

The  condition  of  Black-TIawk  and  his  hand  '^tvw  dnjlv 
more  Tniserable,  from  destitution,  exposure,  and  starviiiim:, 
An  end  would  speedily  have  been  put  to  theii-  (tpiiatiun.-; 
but  for  tliat  terrible  disease,  the  cholera,  by  wliirli  the 
United  States  troo})S,  on  their  route  from  the  east  U)  {\v^ 
scene  of  action,  were  almost  wholly  disabled. 

Driven  from  his  cncani])ment  at  the  Four  liakcs  bv  tin; 
approach  of  General  Atkinson,  Black- Ilawk  rclivMtdl 
down  the  Wisconsin,  expecting  to  find  provisions  jukI  as- 
sistance among  tlie  Indians  in  that  direction.  Gein'i'al 
Dodge,  with  a  strong  force  of  militia,  followed  clnsc  on  his 
trail.  lie  came  up  with  the  fugitives  on  the  21st  (if  .lulv, 
1'he  Indians  were  about  crossing  the  river  when  tlicy  wvio 
attacked,  and,  but  for  the  coming  on  of  night,  c<juld  hai'diy 
have  escajjcd  entire  destruction  or  capture,  ^i'hcy  lu.4  in 
the  encounter  not  ftir  from  forty  men. 

The  discomfited  savatres  continued  their  flii^ht  dnwii 
the  river  in  their  boats,  beset  on  every  side  by  encmirs, 
and  with  an  overwhelming  f(jrce — Dodge's  army  liavin.,' 
been  joir  A  by  Atkinson  and  his  troops  in  hot  jir.r.-uit. 
"Some  of  the  boats,"  sa3'S  Drake,  "conve3-ing  tlnsi^  |HM,r 
wretches,  were  overset,  and  man}' of  those  in  them  dr(  Avn'd: 
the  greater  number,  however,  fell  into  the  hands  of  tlieir 
enemies  in  their  passage.  iNEany  of  the  children  were 
found  to  be  in  such  a  famished  state  that  they  could  nut 
be  revived." 

Having  reached  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  first  of 
August,  Black-TIawk  })repared  to  cross  the  Mississi]»jii,  hut 
was  prevented  by  a  force  on  board  the  steam-boat  Warrior, 
tie  "did  not  wish  to  fight,  but  to  csca})e;  and  v.'lu'n  the 
.steam-boat  fell  in  with  him,  he  used  every  means  to  liivc 
the  captain  of  her  to  understand  tliat  he  desired  to  surrra- 


BLACK  HAWK. 


■mv. 
Hi' 

.4,.!;  'i' 

.\t- 

V 

\ 

1 

i    '    !. 

M 

i           '-''1! 

,  1  ' 

f  I] 

,'        '  . 

:  'i 

'  ''"^' 

H^:| 

|J    '*! 


nk 


THE  DELAWAllES,  SIIAWAXEES,  ETC. 


381 


dor.  Tie  (li.-^played  two  white  flags,  and  about  one  liundreil 
and  fifty  of  his  men  approached  the  rivei  svithout  arms, 
ami  made  signs  of  submission."  The  oidy  reply  was  a 
discharge  of  canister  and  nnisketry  from  the  boat,  wliich 
was  retui-ncd  from  the  shore.  After  about  an  hour's 
lirinir,  which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  more  than 
t  vciity  of  the  Indians,  the  boat  moved  off  to  procure  a 
supply  of  wood. 

Next  morning  General  Atkinson,  with  the  -wdiole  force 
HI  j)ursuit,  (sixteen  hundred  men)  came  up  with  the  ivm- 
naiit  of  the  enemy,  lletreat  was  cut  off  on  every  side, 
ami  the  half  starved  and  dispirited  savages  were  shot  and 
cut  down  at  the  pleasure  of  the  irresistible  numbers  wlio 
surrounded  them.  The  following  Ls  exl"acted  from  an 
account  pubhshed  shortly  after  this  decisive  and  Inial  en- 
gagement. "The  battle  hu'ted  upwards  of  three  liours. 
About  fifty  of  the  enemy's  women  and  chihlren  were  tak(!n 
prisoners,  and  many,  by  accident,  in  the  battle,  were  kill- 
ed. When  the  Indians  were  driven  to  tho  bank  of  the 
Missis.sii>pi,  some  hundreds  of  men,  women,  and  chihlren, 
plunged  into  the  river,  and  hoped,  by  diving,  kc.  to  esca})e 
the  bullets  of  our  guns;  very  few,  however,  escaped  our 
sliar])-shooters." 

Historians  generally  speak  of  an  action  in  wliiidi  the 
Indians  prove  successful  as  a  "mas.'^acre,"  but  the  above- 
described  proceeding  is  dignified  by  the  name  of  a  battle! 
Rlack-Hawk,  who,  with  a  few  followers,  managed  to  tdfcct 
his  escape,  afterwards  declared  that,  upon  the  appvoa(di 
of  the  American  army,  he  and  his  warriors  made  no 
attem])t  at  resistance,  offering  to  surrender  themselves  uu- 
couditionally,  and  that  they  oidy  u.sed  their  arms  when  it 
was  apparent  that  the  successful  pursuers  had  no  intention 
of  showing  quarter.  It  is  hard  to  decide  upon  the  true 
state  of  the  ease. 

His  cause  now  being  palpably  hopeless,  and  most  of  his 


:M 


k 

1 1; 


U' 


i.'y 


i« 


■i^. 


II 1 


882 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMERICA. 


rein.'iiniiig  warriors  liaviii<^  yielded  tliemsclves  prisoiicrs, 
or  been  tiikeu  by  the  various  bands  of  Incbans  friendly  to 
the  whites,  Blaek-llawk  surrendered  himself  at  I'lairie  du 
Chien,  on  the  27th  of  August.  With  several  other  cliiclH 
ho  \\as  taken  to  Washington,  and  after  holding  eon Cfri'iii'o 
with  President  Jackson,  was  confined,  for  a  period,  at  i'dit 
Monroe,  on  an  island  near  Old  Point  Comfort,  on  the  Chesa- 
peake. Here  the  captive  warriors  were  well  and  kindly 
treated,  and  in  June,  of  the  ensuing  year  (1833),  there  be- 
ing i.o  longer  any  necessity  for  detaining  them  as  hostages, 
they  were  set  at  liberty. 

Before  returning  to  the  west,  these  chiefs  visited  seviTal 
of  the  principal  eastern  cities,  and  were  every  where  ix-- 
ceivcd  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm  and  interest.  They 
w^M-e  shown  the  fortifications,  navy-yards,  &c.,  and  every 
effort  was  made  to  impress  them  with  the  irresistible  jiower 
of  the  government.  They  were  afterwards  escorted  hack 
to  their  homes  at  the  west,  and  dismissed  with  valuahlo 
presents  and  tokens  of  good-will. 

Black-IIawk  lived  thenceforth  in  peace  with  the  whites. 
lie  settled  npon  the  Des  Moines  river,  where  he  died  in 
1838.  ^riie  body  of  the  old  warrior,  in  accordance  with 
his  own  wishes,  expressed  shortly  before  his  death,  was 
dis])osed  in  Indian  style.  According  to  Drake:  "No  grave 
was  made;  hut  his  body  was  placed  in  a  sitting  position, 
Avith  his  cane  between  his  knees  and  grasped  in  his  hands; 
slabs  or  rails  were  then  piled  up  al)ont  him.  Such  was  the 
end  of  Black-IIawk.  Here,  however,  his  bones  did  not 
long  rest  in  peace,  but  the}'  were  stolen  from  their  pkice  of 
deposit  some  time  in  the  following  winter;  but  about  a  year 
after,  it  was  discovered  that  they  were  in  possession  of  a 
surgeon,  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  to  whom  some  person  ha<l 
sent  them  to  be  wired  together.  When  Governor  Lucas, 
of  Iowa,  became  acquainted  with  the  facts,  they  were,  by 
his  requisition,  restored  to  his  friends." 


INDIANS  OF  THE   SOUTHERN   STATES. 


CIIAPTEU  I. 

EARLY  LOCATION,  NTTMRKPS,  CHARACTKR,  KTC,  OF  THR  CATAWBAS  ; 
OF  THE  tfPI'EH   AND   LOWKIl   CHKIiOKKKS  ;    OF    THK    MtJSCO(;EES 

I  Oil  creeks;  OF  Tiii:  CHOCTAW'S  ;  of  the  ciiickasaws — 

FKENCH  WAR  WITH  THE  NATCHEZ  AND  CHICKASAWS. 

"We  sliall  not  undertake  to  assign  definite  boundaries  to 
the  several  tracts  of  country  occupied  1)}'  the  extensive  tribes 
of  tlic  Creeks,  Clierokees,  Choctaws,  Chiekasaws,  Catawbas, 
Uclices,  &e.,  nor  to  pursue  tlieir  history,  separately.  Thei\) 
arc  no  suflieient  distinctions  in  their  general  habits  and 
character  to  render  such  a  detail  necessary,  and  as  they 
were  nearly  all  more  or  less  ail'ected  by  the  same  political 
events  and  changes,  they  can  be  best  considrreil  collec- 
tively. ^Jlic  name  of  Creeks,  (an  English  term,  taken 
from  the  character  of  the  country  they  inhabited,)  has  been 
applied  to  all  the  tribes  above  mentioned. 

James  Adair,  a  trader  and  resident  among  the  Southern 
hidians  for  forty  years,  in  liis  History  of  the  American 
Indians,  published  in  1775,  gives  the  most  complete  ac- 
count of  these  races  to  be  found  in  the  early  writers.  Tho 
principal  portion  of  his  book  is  devoted  to  a  labored  dis- 
quisition upon  the  origin  of  the  red  men,  and  arguments 
to  prove  their  descent  from  the  Jews:  the  rest  consists  of 
separate  details  of  the  manners  and  history  of  the  southern 
tribes,  with  observations  and  anecdotes  coimected  with  the 
race  in  general. 


'* 


t-t, 


1'  *i 


r 


fli 


%kM 


! 


mum 


'      I 


M 


,  'M 


i^lM'\^::  ami 


',2ti    I    .,<   '       J      1 


;;si 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKiaCA. 


lie  f.'ornnionees  witli  tlic  C:ittnvbas,  who  then  dwelt  Ito- 
twci-n  tlic  (^arolinas  iiiid  tlio  country  <»f  the  Clicn)k(.'e.H. 
Wy  iiitorcourse  with  tlio  whites,  they  had  become  inoro 
d('<^i'a(k'd  than  the  (jthcr  nations  of  wliich  we  nvv  mnv 
to  speak,  and  <lrunkenness,  indolence,  and  povertv  wcn* 
obviously  i)revalent.  'i'lu^y  ^v•crc  n  numerous  and  warliko 
j)eoj)l(!  when  South  Carolina  was  first  settled,  inusliriirr 
about  lil'teeu  iiundred  warriors;  but  small-pox  a  d  the  use 
of  ardent  spirits  had,  ;it  this  time,  recbiecd  them  to  less 
that)  one-tenth  oftheii  former  nuird)ers. 

'i'hey  were  i.ld  enemies  of  the  Iroquois,  with  whom  tli^'y 
had  waged  long  and  savage  wars :  with  the  P'nglish  ikcv 
had  generally  been  n})on  good  terms.  Adair  describes  aii 
old  waste  field,  seven  miles  in  extent,  as  one  of  the  evi- 
dences of  their  former  prosjicrity,  when  they  could  "ciil- 
tivatc  so  much  land  with  their  dull  stone-axes."  Of  tlicsc, 
as  of  t)th(M-  Indians,  he  sa3's:  "l^y  some  fatality  thev  an: 
much  addicted  to  excessive  drirdcing;  and  s])ii-itiious  li- 
quors distract  them  so  exceedingly,  that  they  will  even 
eat  live  coals  of  fire." 

The  Upper  Cherokees  inhabited  the  high  and  mountain- 
ous r(\gion  of  the  Appalachian  range,  arul  that  ujv)ii  tlio 
ui)])er  ])ortions  of  the  'rennessce.  The  Lower  ti'ibe  ocr\i. 
pied  the  country  around  the  head  waters  of  the  Savainuiii 
and  Chatahoochee,  to  the  northward  of  the  Muscogocs 
or  Creeks  proi)er.  When  Adair  first  became  acipiainti  J 
with  the  Cherokees,  about  the  year  IToo,  they  W(>i'e  eciri- 
puted  l)y  old  tradcu's  to  number  six  thousand  fighting  v.wn. 
They  had  sixty-four  populous  towns.  In  1788,  nearly 
half  of  them  pc^rished  by  the  small-pox. 

Like  all  the  other  mitaught  nations  of  America,  tlie\ 
were  driven  to  ])crfect  desjieration  by  the  ravages  of  this 
disease.  The  cause  to  -whicli  the^^  ascribed  it,  and  tlic 
strange  remedies  and  enchantments  used  to  stay  its  ju'ogress, 
are   alike    remarkable.     One  course  was   to  plunge  the 


m\ 


INDIANS  OF  TITK  SOL-THKliX  Kr.STKS. 


mticnts  into  cold  running  water -(^it  is  fliwwlioro  nicri- 
ijdiicd  tliut  thdso  iidlictod  will  rr^'ijiK'tiily  leap  into  tin! 
rivi'i'  tlu'insolvcs  to  alhi)'  the  (i'Vcr  and  t(irnioiit) — the  I'c- 
piilt  of  whicli  operation  w^m  speedily  I'atai.  "  A  groat  ni;iny 
killed  tlieiii<"lvi's;  lor,  hjing  naturally  proud,  tli^'v  aiv 
always  i«ee])iiig  into  their  looking-glasses. —  I'y  wliidi 
means,  seeing  then^selves  disdgured,  without  hojio  of  re- 
gaining their  fortner  beauty,  some  shot  themselves,  othei'S 
cut  their  throats,  some  stabbtMl  themselves  with  knives,  and 
dtlicrs  with  sharj)-j)ointed  canes;  many  threw  themselves 
with  sullen  madness  into  trie  fire,  and  there  slowly  ex- 
pireil,  as  if  they  had  been  utterly  divested  of  the  native 
iifiwer  of  feeling  pain."  One  of  them,  when  his  friends 
bad  restrained  these  frantic  eflbrts,  and  deprived  him  of 
his  weapons,  went  out,  and  taking  "a  thick  and  round 
lioe-heh'e,  fixed  one  end  of  it  in  the  ground,  and  ivpeat- 
(vlly  tlirew  himself  on  it  till  he  forced  it  down  his  thi'oatl 
when  he  immediately  expinvl," 

These  tribes  were  form(!rly  continually  at  war  with  the 
Six  Nations,  at  the  north,  and  wdth  the  ^fuscogec^s  at  the 
?outli;  but  previous  to  their  war  with  the  Phiglish  eolonit's 
tluy  had  been  for  some  time  comparatively  at  peace,  and 
^vore  in  a  thriving  and  prosperous  condition.  'J'hey  wen; 
excellently  well  suj)plied  with  horses,  and  were  "skillt'ul 
jockies,  and  nice  in  their  choice." 

Tli(!  lower  settlement  of  tlie  Muscogees  or  Creeks,  was 
in  tliC  country  watered  by  the  Chatahoochee  and  1^'lint; 
the  U])per  Creeks  dwelt  about  the  head  waters  of  the 
Mobile  and  Alabama  rivers.  Their  neighbors,  on  the 
west,  were  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws. 

The  Creeks  were  a  nation  formed  by  the  union  of  a 
number  of  minortribes  with  the  Muscogees,  who  constituted 
the  nucleus  of  the  combination.  About  the  middh;  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  they  were  computed  to  nuntber  no 
less  than  three  thousand  five  hundred  men  capabU;  of 
25 


'''K.'- 


^■'; 


A 

,  1 

f:\ 

,  'It 

■I           ..i  ■  ,v 

„  ri"' 

^  I:' 

r-; 


.4.:iiit-iiii ..; : 


- — ~ — --i"^ 


•>  V  l' 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKKU'A. 


neurinj^  iirms.  They  liml  Irtinicl  tlic  necessity  (jI'sccUuI. 
iii^  those  iiili'cteil  with  the  sinall-pox,  so  as  to  jivoiil  the 
sjireud  oi'  the  ec)iit;i;,M()ii,  jiiul  th(;ir  general  huhits  aiKl 
usages  were  such  thai  they  were  fast  iiiercasiiig,  iiistfiid 
of  (limiiiishitig,  like  all  the  surrt)uinliiig  triln'S. 

While  the  Kloridas  were  in  the  ijossessimi  ol'Sjiain,  tlio 
Creeks  were  surrounded  by  helligerent  powers,  both  imtivc 
and  Kuropean,  and  they  aj)pi'jir  to  have  adopted  a  \'iv 
shrewd  and  artful  policy  in  their  intercourse  with  cadi, 
'J'lierc  was  u  l*'reneli  garrison  in  their  country ;  tlic  iMiL^li.-h 
settlements  lay  to  th(!  north  and  east,  and  those  of  tin: 
Sj)aniards  to  the  south;  and  the  old  sages  of  the  tril"' 
"being  long  informed  by  the  opposite  j)arties  of  the  dil- 
ferent  views  and  intrigues  of  those  foreign  powers,  wlm 
paid  them  annual  ti'ibutc  under  the  vague  appellation  of 
})rescnts,  were  become  surprisingly  crafty  in  every  turn 
of  low  polities."  ^i'h(>  I'Veneh  were  very  successful  in  tin  ir 
efforts  to  conciliate  the  good-will  of  the  Museogees,  and  in 
alienating  them  from  the  iMiglish. 

The  country  of  the  Choctaws  extended  from  that  oftlie 
Museogees  to  the  Mississippi,  rea(;hing  northward  to  the 
boundaries  of  the  Chiekasaws:  their  lower  towns  on  tin; 
I'iver  were  about  two  hundred  miles  north  of  New  Or- 
leans. Adair  gives  these  ])eoplc  a  very  bad  character,  as 
being  treacherous,  dishonest,  ungrateful,  and  unscrupulous; 
but  he  bears  witness  to  their  adtnirable  readiness  of  speech. 
They  were  "ready-witted,  and  endued  with  a  suri)i'isiiiL.' 
flcnv  of  smooth,  artful  language  on  every  subject  within 
the  reach  of  their  ideas." 

The  strange  custom  of  flattening  the  head,  prevalent 
among  .some  other  American  tribes,  obtained  with  tin' 
Choctaws.  The  operation  was  pi.'i'formed  by  the  Avei,ulit 
of  a  bag  of  sand  kept  upon  the  foivheads  of  tlie  infants  bo- 
fore  the  skull  had  hardened.  'J'his  process  not  imi)i'obaMy 
affected  the  powers  of  the  mind:  at  all  events,  Adair  savs: 


INDIANS  OF  TlIK  POLTHKHX  HTATKS. 


887 


"flic'ir  features  (md  Tiiiiid  oxnt'lly  rorro.«potHl  tof^othor; 
for,  cxoojtt  llio  iiitciiso  lovo  tliey  boar  to  tlit-ir  nativo  coini 
trv,  and  their  iittor  contcinjit  of  any  kind  of  dan;^'(>r  in 
dolbncc  of  it,  T  know  no  other  virtue  they  are  possessed 
(if:  the  f^encral  ol>s(>rvation  of  the  traders  among  them  is 
just,  who  alfirm  tliem  to  be  divested  of  every  projx'rty  of 
a  liuinan  being,  except  shape  and  hmguag(\" 

Tlic  French  luvd  acquired  great  infbiencc  over  the  Choc 
taws,  as,  indeed,  over  nearly  every  tribe  in  North  America 
with  wliom  they  had  maintained  frien<lly  intercourse. 
Adair  enhwges  u})on  the  artful  policy  with  whi'h  they 
conciliattMl  and  bribed  the  leaders  and  orators  of  the  nation. 
Hi'sides  this,  he  .'^ays:  "the  masterly  skill  of  tlu^  French 
enabled  them  to  do  more  with  those  savages,  with  trifles, 
than  all  our  experienced  managers  of  Indian  alVuirs  have 
Im'cu  able  to  effect  by  the  great  quantities  of  valuable 
ifoods  they  gave  them  with  a  very  profuse  hand.  The 
fiirmcr  bestowed  their  small  favors  with  exquisite  wi.<<doin ; 
find  their  value  was  exceedingly  enhanced  by  the  external 
kindly  behavior  and  well-adapted  smooth  address  of  the 
jrivcr." 

The  nation  of  the  Ciiickasaws,  at  the  time  of  wl.'l  'li  we 
are  speaking,  was  settled  near  the  sources  of  the  'JV:)mbigbee, 
a  few  miles  eastward  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Tallahache. 
They  numbered  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  wari-iors, 
hut  were  greatly  reduced  since  tlieir  ancient  emigration 
from  the  west.  They  were  said  to  have  formerly  consti- 
tuted one  familv  with  the  Choctaws,  and  to  have  been 
able  to  bring  one  thousand  men  into  the  field  at  the  time 
of  their  removal.  Due  allowance  must  of  course  be  made 
for  mistake  and  exaggeration  in  these  early  traditions. 

The  Ciiickasaws  Avere  ever  inimical  to  the  French  and 
friendly  to  the  Fhiglish  colonists.  It  was  by  their  eflbrta 
that  the  neighboring  tribe  of  the  Natchez  was  stirred  up 
to  attack  the  French  settlements,  in  1729.     The  French 


ijz: 


1 

1 

f    :r 


•   *■ 


I 


§m 


ffT"" 


!l 


w 


m  ^** 

1 

m        :' 

;| 


I     il  *'  i 


i-ii 


n: 


38S 


INDIAN  uacp:s  of  amkuica. 


had,  una(lvis(!(lly,  imposed  a  species  of  tax  iijioii  tin.' 
Natcliez,  demanding  a  dressed  buek-skin  fi-otn  eaeh  m:;;) 
of  the  tribe,  without  renderin",'  any  return;  Ijut,  us  soim; 
of  that  jteoplc  afterwards  rej)()rted  to  Adair,  "the  Wiurims' 
hearts  grew  very  cross,  and  loved  tlie  deer-skins." 

The  Chickasaws  were  not  slow  to  foment  a  (Hstuibanct; 
uj)on  intelligence  of  tliis  ])roeeeding,  and  sent  messengers, 
with  presents  of  j)ii)es  and  tobacco,  to  counsel  an  uttarL- 
u{)on  the  exercisers  of  such  tyranny.  Nothing  so  stronglv 
excites  an  Indian's  indignation  lus  any  attempt  at  taxation, 
and  the  Xatehez  wci'e  easily  persuadeil  that  the  Frcncli  iia'] 
resolved  to  crush  and  enslave  tliein.  Jt  took  about  a  year  to 
ripen  the  plot,  as  tlie  Indians  arc  "slow  ir>  their  councils  on 
thingsofgrcat  importance,  though  equally  close  and  intrnt." 

It  was  in  the  month  of  NovembcT,  (1720,)  that  tin'  In- 
dians fell  upon  the  I'Vench  settlement.  Tlu;  c(jrrnnaiHlaiit 
had  received  some  intimation  of  the  intended  attack  from 
a  woman  of  the  tribe,  but  did  not  j)lace  sufficient  (lej)ciiil- 
enco  u{)on  it  to  take  any  elTicicnt  steps  for  the  protection 
of  his  charge.  The  whole  colony  wa.s  massacred:  int^a, 
women  and  children,  to  the  number  of  over  seven  hun- 
dred— Adair  says  fifttien  hundred — perished  by  th(;  wa'ap- 
ons  of  the  savages.  The  triumph  of  the  Natchez  was, 
however,  but  of  short  duration.  The  French  came  uj)on 
them  in  the  following  summer  witli  a  large  army,  consistiii;,' 
of  two  thousand  of  their  own  soldiers  and  a  great  array  of 
their  Choctaw  allies,  "^rho  Natchc/C  were  j)osted  at  a  strong 
fort  near  a  lake  communicating  with  the  Bayou  D'Argcnt, 
and  received  the  assailants  with  great  resolution  and  ('our- 
age.  "^riiey  made  a  vigorous  sally,  ius  the  enemy  aj'proarh- 
ed,  but  were  driven  within  their  defences,  and  "  bonibanlcd 
with  three  mortars,  which  forced  them  to  fly  oft'  different 
ways."  The  Choctaws  took  many  prisoners,  some  of  whom 
were  tortured  to  death,  and  the  rest  shipped  to  the  West 
Indies  as  slaves. 


*M  e 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SfHTMKUX  STATKS. 


;)M) 


TIm;  rcrniiiint  c^ftlic  Nutclicz  flcjd  fcjr  suf'ty  to  tlu;  (Jhickii- 
saws.  Tliis  l)n)ii;^rlit  aliout  ji  \v;ir  between  tlu;  l*Veiicli  aiul 
the  last-mentioned  tribe,  in  whieh,  if  w(!  inuy  bdii^vcj 
Adair,  the  Indians  had  de(;i<ledly  the  advantage.  He  tells 
of  one  engagement,  in  whicli  th(!  I'Veneli  and  their  Indian 
allies  had  snrronndrd  the;  Cliick-asaw  .settlements  in  the 
iiiifiit,  with  the  cxeejition  of  one,  whieh  stood  at  som(!  dis- 
tance from  the  rest,  ealled  Amalahta.  The  besiegers  beset 
cvcrv  hoMS(!,  and  kille<l  all  who  came  out:  "but  at  the 
(lawn  of  day,  when  they  were;  cajtering  and  using  tho.se 
fliiuiishes  that  are  peculiar  to  that  volatile  nation,  tlu;  (jther 
tiiwii  drew  round  them,  stark  naked,  and  j)ainte(l  all  over 
rril  and  black;  thus  they  attaeke(l  them,  kille(l  nund)ers 
(ill  tlu'  spot,  relea.sefl  their  brethren,  who  joined  them  like 
oniaged  lions."  The  Indians  behjnging  to  the  l''reneh 
]i;irty  fled,  but  the  whites  were  all  killed  exeept  two,  "an 
ollicer,  and  a  negroe,  who  faithfully  held  his  horse  till  \u) 
nieiiiite(lj  and  then  ran  along  side;  of  him.  A  ('ouph!  of 
.^wil't  runnel's  wei'c;  sent  after  them,  who  sorju  came  up 
with  them,  and  told  them  to  live  and  go  homi-,  and  inform 
their  people,  that  as  the  Chickasah  hogs  ha<l  now  a  plenty 
of  ugly  l''i'eiich  eareases  to  fecnl  on  till  next  vear,  thev 
liojicd  then  to  have  another  visit  from  them  and  their  re(l 
friends;  and  that,  as  rnc.s.scngers,  they  wished  them  safe 
home." 

On  another  occasion,  the  same  historian  informs  ns  that 
the  French  a])proa(died  the  (.'hi(d<asaw  sto(d<a<le,  strang(dy 
disL:iiis(!il,  and  T)rotect(;d  from  the  balls  of  tlu;  enemv  bv 
jKiddings  of  wool.  The  Indians  wciv.  to  the  last  d(;gree 
astonisheil  both  at  their  appearance  and  invulnerability, 
and  were  about  to  desist  from  active;  I'csi.stanei!,  and  re.sort 
to  the  skill  of  their  own  necromancers  to  o{>j)ose  what 
th(y  thought  must  bo  "wizards,  or  old  French-men  carry- 
ing tli(i  ark  of  war  against  them."  As  the  enemy  ap- 
proached, and  began  to  throw  hand-grenades  into  the  n)rt 


P 


p.:  r 


li 

I,  ^ 


vfl: 


#^- 


!'^  W 


if'  .*:  I" 


V 


t  f. 


r^#fr;' ■■"•'" 


I'll 


;!)0 


INDIA X   HACKS  OF  AMKIllCA. 


tlicy  were  quiekly  undreeived,  and  set  in  earnest  about 
the  work  of  defence.  They  pulled  the  niateln's  out  oftlie 
fi^renades,  or  throw  them  back  among  the  French;  and.  sal- 
lying forth,  directed  an  L'Tectivc  lii-e  at  the  legs  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  speedily  driven  olK  "I  have  two  (jf 
these  shells,"  says  Adair,  "which  I  keep  with  veneratiuii 
as  speaking  trophies  over  the  boasting  Monsicurs  and 
their  bloody  schemes." 


CIIAPTEll  II. 

colonization  of  gkoligia — karly  intekcourse  with  till-:  natives 

— tomochichi — intrigues  of  thk  uevkrenu  thomas  liosom- 

worth — cherokee  war  of   1759 — attakullakulla  a\d 

occonostota — murder  of    indian   hostages — colonel 

Montgomery's  expedition — destruction  of  the  east- 

ern  cherokee  towns — rattle  inear  etchoe — ca- 

pitulation  at  fort  loudon — indian  treachery 

campaign  of  colonel  grant,  and  complete 

reduction  of  the  cherokees. 

When  the  little  colony  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
souls,  under  the  guidance  of  James  Edward  Oglethorpe, 
commenced  the  settlement  of  Georgia,  in  the  winter  of 
1733,  the  upper  and  lower  Creeks  laid  claim  to  the  whole 
territory  south-west  of  the  Savannah.  The  only  natives 
residing  in  the  vicinity — at  Yamacraw — were  })eaeeably 
disposed  towards  the  settlers,  but  the  governor  of  the  in- 
fant colony  thought  it  advisable  to  put  himself  upon  safe 
grounds  as  respected  the  Indian  claims.  lie  therefore 
secured  the  services  of  a  half-breed  woman,  named  Marv 
Musgrove,  who  could  speak  English,  and,  by  her  media- 
tion, brought  about  a  conference  with  the  chiefs  of  tho 
tribe  at  Savannah,  the  seat  of  the  new  settlement. 


ziiJJ 


IXDIAXS  OF  THE  SOUTIIEHN  STATES. 


r.oi 


^^arv  liad  formerly  married  a  white  trader  fi-om  Caro- 
lina. J5csides  her  u.selulues.s  as  an  iiiterpret(M-,  she  hail 
sucli  influence  (jvei  her  tril)e,  that  Oglethorjie  th()ii,L:lit  it 
worth  his  while  to  purchase  her  services  at  the  rate  of  one 
hundred  pounds  a  year.  She  heeame  afterwards,  as  we 
shall  see,  a  source  of  no  little  dan<jer  and  aniiDvauce  to 
tlic  Knglish, 

Fifty  chiefs  of  the  Creek  nation  were  assend)led  at  the 
place  of  conference,  and  Tomochichi,  the  most  noted 
among  those  then  known  to  the  settlers,  made  an  amica- 
ble speech,  proffering  at  the  same  time  a  present  of  a 
kiirah:)-skin,  adorned  with  eagles'  feathers.  A  treaty  was 
concluded,  sid^ject  to  the  ratification  of  the  English  crown, 
hv  virtue  of  which  the  Indians  wei'c  to  consitler  them- 
s;clvt\s  the  subjects  of  the  king,  and  to  live  in  ])eace  and 
fnen<lship  with  his  white  colonists.  The  lands  lying  be- 
tween the  Savannah  and  Altamaha,  Averc  made  over  to  the 
Knglish,  with  all  the  islands  on  that  coast,  except  St.  Catha- 
rine's and  two  others,  whieh  were  reserved  for  the  use  of 
the  Indians  :^s  bathing  and  fishing  stations.  A  tract  was 
also  set  apart  for  them  to  encamp  u})on  when  they  visited 
their  white  friends,  a  little  abovi>  the  ^'amacraw  bluif, 
where  Savannah  now  stands.  X'arious  other  stii)ulations, 
respecting  terms  of  trade,  the  punishment  of  ollences,  &c., 
were  entered  into,  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  jiarties. 

In  April,  1734,  Oglethorpe  took  Tomoehiehi,  his  <pieen, 
and  several  other  Indians  with  him  to  Kngland.  'I'hey 
wore  presented  to  th.e  king,  and  every  pains  was  taken  to 
produce  a  strong  impression  upon  thcMr  minds  of  the 
Knglish  power  and  magniti;xMic(\  All  the  Indians  with 
whom  the  first  tjovcrnor  of  (icori-ia  held  intercourse  seem 
to  have  f  )rmcd  a  gi eat  attachment  for  hiui,  styling  him  their 
"beloved  man."  If  others  in  authority  among  the  I'lnglish 
colonies  had  pursued  as  honest  a  course  towards  the  natives, 
tnufh  bloodshed  would  doubtless  have  been  averted. 


1 1 


I 


w 


I. 


i 

.  1 

,1; 

( , 

■A 

1 

■ 

f 

• 

r 

i" 

|iil  ••« 

i:    , 

f 

jlli 


ifl  ?1 


nil 


^ 


INDIAN  KACP:S  of  AMERICA. 


When  (lilTicultics  .arose  in  1738,  connected  willi  tlic  con- 
flicting claims  of  Knglaiul  and  8j)ain  to  jurisdiction  owi 
the  new  country,  Spanish  ag(3nts  were  dispatched  to  win 
over  tlic  Creeics.  'i'ln^J  decoyed  a  body  of  them  to  Au- 
gustine, by  pretences  that  Oglethoi-pc  was  there,  and  that 
ho  was  desirous  of  seeing  them.  On  tlieir  arrival,  tiio 
Indians  were  told  that  the  P]ngiish  governoi'  was  sii'k  (.u 
board  one  of  the  ships;  but  they  had  begun  to  sii-^]Hvt 
deception,  and,  refusing  to  go  out  to  the  vessel,  Idl  the 
town  in  great  disgust.  Their  suspiciov.s  were  conlin.n  1 
when  they  reached  home,  and  the  transaction  only  strcii^ith- 
ened  their  dislike  to  the  Sjianiards. 

In  the  following  year,  Oglethorpe  attem'ed  a  great  as- 
sembly of  Creeks,  Cherokees,  and  Chiclusaws,  at  the 
Coweta  town,  several  hundred  miles  from  "i7redcriea,  and 
confirmed  their  good-will  towards  the  Phiglish  by  prcstMiis, 
and  friendly  communion.  lie  smoked  the  calumet  with 
the  chiefs,  and  solenndy  renewed  the  original  tivatv^f 
amity  and  mutual  protection.  This  year  old  Tomochii'iil 
died,  not  far  from  Yamacraw,  expressing  to  tlic  la>t  lils 
love  for  his  first  English  patron,  and  urging  uj)0ii  Li.s 
people  the  ])oliey  of  maintaiiung  their  ]>lacc  in  his  g(Hd- 
will.     The  chief  was  nearly  ninety -s<n^en  years  of  age. 

The  year  1749  was  memorable  for  a  most  an(laci('i;3 
attempt  on  the  j^art  of  one  ^riiomas  Bosomworih  to  a;^- 
grandi/.e  himself  by  attaining  asujiremacv  over  the  Creeks. 
He  had  Ikh'U  formei'ly  a  chaplain  in  Oglethorpe's  regimeat, 
anil  had  married  .dary  Musgrove,  his  half-breed  inteiji;-'- 
ter.  Jn  Deeemluu',  of  1747,  this  man  fell  in  with  a  e<i:ii- 
pany  of  chiefs,  belonging  to  the 'nation,  then  on  a  visit  to 
Frederica;  and  persuaded  them  to  sign  certain  artii'lcs, 
acknowledging  one  of  their  nc.mbei",  named  Malatehe 
Opi\'a  Meeo,  as  rightful  king  over  the  whole  Creek  ]\t\[u>n 
Bosomworth  tl-.en  procured  from  Malatche  a  conveyaa' e, 
for  certain   considerations — among  other  things,  a  larjo 


\u 


,     I 


"1  i 


a>l  1. 


(K.'lllC!ll 
)011    Ili.S 

s  l;'(  II "  I- 
iv. 

to    It'.'- 


( 


'I'ccks, 


tlie  con- 
ion  over 
I  to  win 

L   to  Au- 

[uul  that    I 
Viil,  the 
1  sii'k  (.11 

SllSjXvt 

liil  the 

)lirU'l;li  4 

;tn;iii^th- 


grcat  as-   i  i 


,  at  tho 
•ica,  a)id 
Dresouis, 
not  with 
li'cafv  I'f 


;iiioiit, 
tiTjir-'- 
a  (•o:a- 
visit  to 

l-tirlr^, 

ahitrhe 

lIMtit'U 

eyaiii  o, 


INDIANS  OF  TUE  SOUTlIEliX  STATES. 


ooa 


Hiiaiitity  of  anniiunition  and  clotliin;^-,  -  of  the  islands 
liii-incrly  reserved  by  the  Indians,  to  liiniself'and  liis  wiie 
Miiiv,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  "as  hjng  as  thu  siui  shall 
shine,  or  the  waters  run  in  the  ri\xrs,  foroNor."  This  dvvd 
was  regularly  witnessed,  j)r(n'ed  lAl'ore  a  justice  (>!'  tlu; 
])i.'are,  and  recorded  in  due  form.  Uosoinwoiih  made 
sonic  cdorts  to  stock  and  iinjTove  these  islands,  but,  his 
iiiiihition  becoming  aroused  In*  suei/oss  in  his  lii-st  intrigue, 
lie  entered  uj)ou  one  luueh  moiv  extensive,  l^y  h's  ))er- 
snasions,  his  wife  now  made  the  extraordinary  ehiiin  that 
she  vv'as  Malatche's  elder  sister,  and  entitled  to  regal  au- 
thority over  I  he  whole  Creek  territory. 

A  great  meeting  of  the  tril)e  was  [iroeured,  and,  what- 
ever of  truth  Mary's  claims  might  be  foutuled  uj)on,  she 
n]ipears  to  have  succeeded  in  })ei-suading  large  numb(;rs 
(if  th(^  Ci'ceks  to  espouse  her  cause,  and  aeknowledgo  her 
iis  an  independent  queen.  Accomjianied  by  a  strong  force 
ofhor  adherents,  she  proceeded  incontinently  to  Savannah, 
seiidinii;  emissaries  before  her  tij  demand  a  suri-erider  of 
all  lands  south  of +he  Savannah  i-ivei',  and  to  make  known 
her  intention  of  enforcinix  her  claim  bv  tlio  entire  destruc- 
tion  of  the  ccdonv,  should  her  demands  be  resisted. 

The  militia  were  called  out  by  the  president  and  council, 
ami  the  Indians  were  kept  quiet  by  a  displa}'  of  conlidence 
and  ilnnness,  that  matters  mi'i'ht  be  fullv  discussed  l)V 
their  leaders  and  the  colonial  authorities.  "  Hosomworth,"' 
?ays  McCall,  "in  his  canonical  robes,  with  his  queen  l)y 
his  side,  followed  by  the  kings  and  chiefs,  according  to 
rank,  marched  into  the  town  on  the  20th  of  July,  nniking 
a  most  formidable  a])pearanee. — The  inhabitants  were 
struck  with  terror  at  the  sight  of  this  ferocious  tribe  of 
savages." 

Lengthy  discussions  ensued,  between  Bosomworth  and 
Mary  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  president  and  council  on 
the  other.      'Jdic  fickle    and   impressible  savages  leaned 


W 


'H' 


.4 


I.  i'ii' 


kh-i 


h 

i\ 

'il 

ii 

Ira'i 

■ 

ilil 

l 

111' 

It 

lA. 

^9W^\  "• 


m. 


m  V 


394 


INIHAN  RACES  OF  AMEUICA. 


alternately  to  either  opinion  accorclin_<^  as  tlicy  "wore  Ikh- 
ungucd  by  tlieir  new  loaders,  or  listened  to  the  explanatidii.s 
of  the  other  })arty.  1'hey  were  t(jld  that  Mary's  elainis  to 
royal  descent  were  entirely  false;  that  she  was  the  daughter 
of  a  white  man  by  a  squaw  of  no  note,  and  that  the  mad 
aiuuition  of  her  reprobate  husband  had  led  to  the  wholo 
movement.  They  exj)ressed  themselves  eonvineed,  hut 
no  sooner  hail  Mary  obtained  another  opportunity  to  coin- 
munieate  with  then\  than  she  succeeded  in  inflaming  and 
bewildering  their  minds.  It  was  found  necessary  to  con- 
fine her  and  her  husband  before  the  savages  could  he 
quietly  dis})ersed. 

Before  this  was  aceomplislied,  the  town  was  in  a  situation 
of  the  most  innninent  danger,  as  the  Indians  vastly  out- 
numbered the  whites;  and  a  very  slight  matter  might 
have  so  roused  their  fury  that  the  whole  colony  woukl 
have  been  annihilated.  The  intriguing  chaplain  had  a 
brother,  Adam  Bosomworth,  agent  for  Indian  alTair.s  in 
Carolina,  who  afterwards  csj)oused  his  interests,  so  far  as  the 
claim  to  the  ish^nds  of  St.  Catharine,  OssabaAV,  and  Sapcio 
was  concerned.  This  coadjutor  visited  the  Creek  nation, 
jjrocured  a  new  conveyance,  and  prosecuted  the  claim 
befoi'c  the  courts  of  Great  Britain.  The  case  })roved  almost 
as  tedious  and  com})lcx  as  that  of  the  celebrated  Mohegan 
land  question  in  Connecticut.  Bosomworth  and  his  wife 
obtained,  a  decision  in  their  favor,  in  1759,  by  virtm^  (»f 
which  they  took  possession  of  St.  Catharine's  island,  and 
resided  upon  it  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Ossabaw  and 
Sapelo  were  decreed  to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  suc- 
cessful parties,  but  further  litigation  arose  from  the  claim? 
of  one  Isaac  Levy,  to  whom  they  had  sold,  as  was  asserted, 
a  moiety  of  that  portion  of  the  grant. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  Cherokee  war,  in  the  winter  ot 
this  year,  (1759,)  is  the  next  e\ont  of  special  interest,  con- 
tiected  with  the  affairs  of  the  Southern  Indians.     Tliov 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTIIKIIN'  STaTES. 


305 


g,vr.  gonorfilly  to  liavc  been  peaceably  di.iposcd,  and  hou 
ist  i.i  the  fullillincnt  of  their  national  on,;agcinents,  and 
probably  would  have  continued  so,  had  they  met  with  fair 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  iMiglish  colonists.  Pailic^ 
dfCherokees,  under  British  commanders,  had  lu'cn  engagt'd 
with  the  English  in  cami)aigns  against  tlie  Fi-eneh  fortifi- 
cations at  the  west.  Upon  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Du- 
quesne,  nund)ers  of  these  Indian  warriors,  whoso  services 
wore  no  longer  required,  set  cut  U])on  their  return  home. 
Having  been  ill-sup])lied  with  provisions,  and  having  lost 
their  horses,  some  of  them  caught  and  availed  themselves 
of  such  of  those  animals  as  they  found  loose  in  the  woods. 
Ill  revenge  for  this  theft,  the  German  settlers  of  Virginia 
;M1  upon  them,  and  murdered  and  scal})ed  a  considerable 
iiu!iil)er.  They  even  imitated,  in  several  instances,  the 
liorrihle  cruelties  of  the  savages  in  the  manner  of  butch- 
(.■ry — at  least,  so  says  Adair,  who  further  re})orts,  that 
■'those  murderers  were  so  audacious  as  to  im])ose  the 
scalps  on  the  government  for  those  of  French  Indians; 
and  that  they  actually  obtained  the  premium  allowed  at 
that  time  by  law  in  such  a  case." 

The  Cherokecs  did  not,  for  a  long  time,  attem{)t  any 
retaliation  for  this  act,  but  made  peaceable  a})plieations  to 
the  authorities  of  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas;  but  all  was 
ill  vain,  and  fresh  insults  and  injuries,  received  from  cer- 
tain officers  at  Fort  St.  George,  finally  excited  the  nation 
to  fury.  Adair  says  truly:  "When  the  Indians  find  no 
redress  of  grievances,  they  never  fail  to  redress  themselves, 
cither  sooner  or  later.  But  when  they  begin,  they  do  not 
know  where  to  end.  Their  thirst  for  the  blood  of  their 
rci)uted  enemies  is  not  to  be  cpienclied  with  a  few  drops. 
The  more  they  drink,  the  more  it  inflames  their  thirst. 
When  they  dip  their  finger  in  human  blood,  they  are  rest- 
ess  till  they  plunge  themselves  in  it." 

The  French,  and,  at  their  instance,  the  Muscogces,  were 


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INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUU'A. 


not  slow  in  availing  tliornsclvos  of  the  above  cireurnstati 
cos  to  stir  up  a  war  against  the  Mnglish.  The  Cherokee? 
deterniined  upon  direct  retaliation  for  tin;  inassaen-.s  l)y 
the  (ierrnans.  A  ])art\',  bound  on  this  eri'and,  fii-st  killcij 
two  soldiers  near  Fort  Loud()n,  on  the  south  bank  of'Tcn- 
nessee  river,  and  afterwards  s})read  themselves  aniong  the 
w('sf(>rn  settlements  of  North  Carolina,  killing  such  dt'tlie 
wliites  as  fell  in  their  power.  It  was  their  lirst  intciitii)ii 
fo  take  scalps  ordy  equal  in  number  to  that  of  their  mur- 
dered kinsmen,  but,  once  having  their  hand  in,  they  ciuld 
not  resist  the  temptation  of  going  much  farther.  "Snon 
after  they  returned  home,  they  killed  a  re])robate  dM 
trader." 

^JMic  young  warriors,  now  thoroughly  I'oused  and  excited, 
would  listen  to  no  proposals  of  restraint:  "Nothing  l>Mt 
war-songs  and  war-dances  eould  please  them,  during  this 
flattering  period  of  becoming  great  warriors,  'by  killiiig 
swarms  of  white  dung-hill  fowls,  in  the  corn-fields,  and 
asleep,'  according  to  their  war-phrase." 

William  II.  Lyttleton,  governor  of  South  Carolin;i,  s>t 
himself  strenuously  both  to  prepare  for  the  defence  of 
the  colonics,  and  to  bring  about  an  adjustment  of  diflicidt- 
ies.  At  Fort  St.  George,  on  the  Savannah,  he  held  a  ceu- 
ference  with  six  Cherokee  chiefs,  on  the  26th  of  DeeemV»or 
(IToO),  and  formed  a  treaty  of  peace,  secured  by  the  de- 
livery of  thirty-two  Indian  hostages,  '^riiese  were  jdaeed 
in  (dose  confinement  in  a  small  and  miserable  hut,  and  the 
governor  returned  to  Charleston. 

According  to  the  usual  course  of  events,  the  Cherokecs 
denied  the  authority  of  the  chiefs  who  had  concluded  the 
above  treaty,  and  hostilities  broke  out  afresh.  TJie  two 
most  celebrated  chiefs  and  leaders  anion tz:  them,  at  this 
time,  were  old  Attakullakulla,  a  promoter  of  peace,  and 
long  the  fast  friend  of  the  Fhiglish,  and  Occonostota,  a 
noted  war-chief.     Captain  Coytmore,  commandant  at  lurt 


IL'V  cniilii 


i 


INDIANS  OF  TlIK  SOUTIIEUN  STATKS. 


G'J7 


George,  v/as  an  oLjcct  of  tlic  bitterest  hatred  on  the  part 
of  tlie  Iiulians,  and  a  lar^e  body  of  them,  led  by  Occoh  <•  • 
tt)ta,  besieged  the  fort  in  I'V-l^rnary  of  17»>0. 

The  place  was  too  strong  to  be  taken  by  assault,  but .  ') 
Indian  chief  managed  to  entice  Coytmore  out  of  tin-  dc- 
fciioes  into  an  and)nsh,  Nvhci'c  he  was  shot  dead,  and  lieu- 
tenants Bell  and  Foster,  who  accompanied  him,  were 
\V(nnided.  The  hostages  who  were  confined  within  tlu^ 
WDrks,  shouted  to  encourage  their  friends  without,  and 
when  an  attempt  was  made  to  j)ut  them  in  injiis,  resistijd 
manfully,  stabbing  one  soldier,  and  wounding  two  others. 
rpon  this,  a  hole  was  cut  in  *'  -  a  ^f  over  their  heads, 
and  the  cowardly  gari'ison  b' tcUc  them  by  shooting 
down  from  above. 

This  war  now  commenced  ..:  tar,  est,  and  Indian  ravages 
extended  far  and  wide  n])ou  th.;  fiontier.  IVoops  were 
ordered  from  New  York  by  "i  al  Andierst,  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  iVmerica;  and  the  neigh- 
horiiig  colonies  approjn'iated  liberal  sums  for  the  pui'posc 
of  buying  the  aid  of  the  Creeks,  Chickasaws,  and  Catawbas. 

Colonel  Montgomery  reached  Carolina  in  April,  (ITOO.) 
and  In'stencd,  in  command  of  the  regulars  and  provincials, 
to  make  an  eft'ective  inroad  uj)on  the  hostile  Indians.  His 
])r()gress  through  the  lower  Cherokee  country  was  marked 
by  the  entire  destruction  of  the  Indian  towns,  'J'hc  first 
place  attacked,  called  Keowee,  was  surrounded,  and  the 
men  of  the  town  were  put  to  the  sword.  Estatoe,  con- 
taining two  hundred  houses,  with  great  quantities  ol'  {)ro- 
visitjns,  was  entirely  destroyed;  but  the  iidiabitantri  were 
saved  by  a  timely  flight.  "  Kvery  other  settlement  east  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,"  says  McCall,  "afterwards  shared  the 
same  fate." 

The  army  made  some  stay  at  Fort  Prince  George,  and 
useless  endeavors  were  put  forth  to  bring  about  a  })acinea- 
tion  with  the  upper  portion  of  thu  Chcrokees.      In  the 


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INIHAX  HACKS  OF  AMEUICA. 


moTitli  of  Juno  the  troops  were  again  on  llicir  mlvance 
into  the  wiMerness  of  tliu  interior.  Xi-ar  the  Indian  town 
of  EtL'lioe,  tlie  native  warriors  prepared  a  most  skillful  ata 
huscado  to  cheek  tlie  advaneinjjj  fi^rees.  It  was  in  u  di'cn 
valley,  throu<r]i  whieh  I'an  a  muddy  stream,  with  strep 
baidvs;  on  either  side  of  whieh  the  way  was  eomplctclv 
choked  with  tangled  brushwood.  Some  hard  tiglitiir' 
took  place  at  this  spot,  in  whieh  twenty  of  the  wliitcy 
were  killed  and  seventy -six  wounded  The  loss  uu  the 
side  '^f  the  Indians  was  nuieh  k'ss,  and,  although  (h'ivoii 
from  the  spot  where  the  first  stand  was  made,  they  in- 
trenched themselves  a  little  farther  on.  Under  these  eir- 
cumstanccs,  Montgomery  determined  to  secure  the  sal'cty 
of  his  troops,  and  to  provide  for  the  re([uisite  attention  to 
his  wounded  men,  by  a  retreat.  He  soon  after  sailed  fur 
New  York,  leaving  four  companies  of  regulars,  under 
Major  Hamilton,  for  the  })rotection  of  the  frontier. 

The  garrison  at  the  isolated  Fort  Loudon  was  now  in  a 
state  of  imminent  })eril.  Th(3  ])rovisions  of  the  })laee  wore 
nearly  exhausted,  and  the  redoubtable  Oceonostota  w;is 
laying  close  siege  to  it  with  his  fierce  and  enraged  waiTiors. 
Alter  sufiering  great  extremes  of  privation,  and  experi- 
encing disapi)ointment  in  all  their  hopes  of  relief,  the  two 
hundred  men  stationed  at  this  place  were  obliged  to  i-i- 
pitulate,  and  trust  to  the  honor  of  tlieir  savage  enemy. 
Captain  Steuart,  an  oilieer  greatly  in  favor  with  all  the 
friendly  Indians,  arranged  the  terms  upon  which  the  fort 
shovdd  be  evacuated.  The  troo])s  Averc  to  be  allowed  a 
free  and  unmolested  passage  to  Virginia,  or  Fort  Prince 
(iteorge,  and  a  detachment  of  Indians  was  to  aeeomjnuiy 
them  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  provisions  by  hunting. 

The  garrison  nuirehcd  out  on  the  7th  of  August  (17(5"). 
Oceonostota  himself,  with  a  number  of  other  natives,  kept 
company  with  the  whites,  during  the  first  day's  march  of 
fifteen  miles;  but  these  all  disappeared  when  they  reached 


I.VDIANS  OF  TUE  SOUTllKUX  STATES. 


SWO 


the  plin'c  of  encampment,  no;ir  an  Tndian  tdwii  calleil 
Taliiiuo.  On  thf  nuxt  morning,  just  liclon^  day,  (llic  time 
gciionilly  selected  by  Indians  i'or  a  surprise,  as  men  slrcp 
iiii>n'  soundly  then  tlian  at  any  otlu-r  hour,)  a  Iavl'*'  1>o(1v 
of  armed  savages,  in  war-paint,  wen!  srcn  \>y  a  sciitinc!, 
crci'ping  through  tin;  bushes,  and  g:ith('riiig  about  the 
(.■ainp.  Hardly  was  the  ahirm  given  when  the  attack  w;n 
made:  twenty-six  of  the  f(,V'ble  and  half  starved  soldiei-s 
were  killed  outright,  and  the  rest  were  jiinioned  and 
marched  back  to  the  fbi't. 

Captain  Steuart  was  among  the  prisoin^s,  but  his  evil 
furtutie  was  alleviated  by  the  staunch  friendship  of  tlii> 
liciievolent  AtakuUakulla.  'J'his  chief,  as  soon  as  he  heard 
«jf  Stcuart's  situation,  hastene<l  to  Fort  Loudon,  "and  j)ur- 
eliased  him  of  the  Indian  who  took  him,  giving  him  his 
rifle,  clothes,  and  all  that  he  could  connnand  ly  -way  of 
ransom:  he  then  took  possession  of  Captain  Demerc's  housi<, 
where  he  kept  his  ])risoner  as  one  of  his  family,  and  hu- 
manely shared  with  him  the  little  ju'ovisious  his  table 
allbrded,  until  an  opportunity  should  oiler  of  rescuing  him." 

A  quantity  of  ammimitiou  was  discovered  bv  the  In- 
dians, buried  in  the  fort,  and  Occoiiostota  (letei'min(Ml  to 
proceed  at  once  to  lay  siege  to  l'"ort  I'rinceGeorge.  Cajjtain 
Steuart  was  informed  that  the  assistance  of  himself  and 
his  men  would  be  required  in  the  maiuigemeut  of  the  great 
guns,  and  that,  furthermore,  if  the  garrison  should  refuse 
to  capitulate,  all  the  prisoners  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
Indians  should,  one  by  one,  be  burned  in  sight  of  the  Ibrt. 
Perceiving  the  dillicnlty  of  his  situaticjn,  the  captain  begged 
his  kind  old  proj)rietor  to  assist  him  in  eirectingan  esea])e, 
and  Attakullakulla  readily  lent  his  aid.  lq)on  pretence 
of  taking  his  jirisoner  out  for  a  hunt,  he  left  Fort  Loudon, 
with  his  wife  and  brother,  and  two  English  soldiers,  aiid 
took  a  direct  course  for  the  Virginia  frontier.  iVfter  a 
most  toilsome  and  dangerous  march,  they  fell  in  with  a 


J'  : 


•loo 


INDIAN  IlACErt  OF  AMKIUCA. 


j)!irtv  of  tlni'c  limi(lrc(l  men,  sent  out  l\>r  the  rclicfof  .siich 
of  lliu  gari'i.soii  iil  I'ort  JiOiidon  as  iiii^lit  have;  tn'cfiril  their 
cscii|K'.  Pifiii^'  iiDW  ill  salt'tv,  Cajttaiii  Sl"iiart  dismi-si'd 
Itirt  lii.liaii  ('liriids  wilh  liaii'lsoiiio  rt'wanls,  to  return  uml 
jittetul  to  the  welfare  of  his  foniuT  feUow-prisoiiei's.  Sudi 
of  theia  as  hail  siirviv<'<l  were  afterwards  raiis(i!iu(l  ami 
''elivered  Up  at  l''ort  I'rincc  George. 

'I'liis  j)osl  waH  iimnediatcly  su)i]ilied  with  provisions  in 
nntieipation  of  flu;  sie^fc;  and  care  was  taken,  t]irou;^li  tlit.! 
mediation  of  Atlakullak'ulla,  to  impress  tlieCherokees  with 
th(!  idea  that  it  was  totally  impregnable. 

Matters  appearc;d  now  to  be,  in  some  manner,  at  rest; 
but  the  majority  of  the  Cherokee  nation  remained  tlior- 
oughly  inimieal,  and  emissaries  from  the  Freneli  eolonios 
were  busy  in  llieir  midst.  A  l''i'eiieli  ollieer,  of  the  name 
of  liatinac,  was  es})t'eially  sueeessful  in  rousing  iij)  their 
liostllc  feelings.  As  an  instance  of  his  style  of  proeee<ling, 
it  is  related  that,  at  a  great  eonehive  of  the  tribe,  he  step- 
ped out,  and  drove  liis  hateliet  into  a  log,  calling  out: 
'"  Who  is  the  man  that  will  take  tliis  up  for  'the  king  of 
iM'anec?'  Saloue,  a  3'oung  warrior  of  J'lstatoe,  laid  hold  of 
it,  and  eried  out,  'I  am  I'or  wai  !  the  spirits  of  our  bn^thers 
who  have  been  slain  still  call  njion  us  to  revenge  their 
death— he  is  no  better  than  a  woman  who  refuses  to  fol- 
low me.'" 

hi  the  following  spring,  Colonel  James  Granc,  who  had 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Ilighlandei's  einj>lined 
I  in  British  .service  in  America,  commenced  active  oi)eratioii.s 
I  against  the  belligerent  iiatio!i.  What  with  the  aid  of  tlio 
provincials  and  friendly  Indians,  he  was  at  the  head  of 
j  about  twenty-six  hundred  men.  The  Chiekasaws  ami 
I  Catawbas  lent  some  assistance  to  the  English;  but  tlio 
Creeks  are  said  to  have  alternately  inclined  to  the  French 
or  Knglish,  according  as  they  received  or  hoped  for  favors 
and  presents. 


1    Till. 


INDIANH  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATKri. 


101 


The  armv  reached  Fort  Prince  CM^orire  on  tlie  27th  of 
May,  (17<)1,)  iuid  th(>reoM  Attakulhikulla  iiuidc!  his  a])- 
pciiraiice,  deprecating  tlie  proposed  vengeance  of  the  whitcM 
uj^uii  hiri  peojtle.  lie  was  told  that  the  English  still  fi-It 
the  strongest  regard  for  liini  individually,  but  that  tin'  ill- 
will  and  misconduct  of  the  majority  of  the  nation  wnc  t^o 
jKiIpahle  and  gross  to  be  suffered  to  go  longer  unpunisln  <1. 
Colonel  Grant  inarched  from  the  fort  in  tlic  month  olMunc, 
and  advanced  nearly  to  the  spot  where  Montgomery's 
progress  had  been  arrested,  before  coming  to  an  engage- 
iiu'iit.  Here  tlic  Cherokees,  on  the  10th,  made  adi>sperato 
but  unavailing  stand;  they  were  routed  and  dispersed,  It  av- 
inj;  their  towns  and  villages  of  the  interior  to  be  destroved 
by  the  invaders.  P^tehoe  was  burned  on  the  day  following 
the  battle;  and,  according  to  McCull,  "all  the  other  towns 
in  the  middle  settlement,  fourteen  in  number,  shared  the 
same  fate:  the  corn,  cattle,  and  other  stores  of  the  enemy, 
were  likewise  destroyed,  and  those  miserable  savage:-:,  with 
their  families,  were  driven  to  seek  shelter  and  subsistence 
among  the  barren  mountains." 

Upon  the  return  of  the  army  to  Fort  Prince  George, 
after  this  campaign,  Attakullakulla  again  visited  the  camp, 
briniring  with   him   a  number  of  other  Cherokee  chiefs. 

a        O 

Broken  down  by  their  disastrous  losses,  and  disgusted  with 
the  deceitful  promises  of  the  French,  they  gladly  acceded 
to  such  terms  as  Colonel  Grant  thought  fit  to  impose,  and 
a  treaty  of  peace  was  formally  concluded. 
20 


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•102  INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMEIIICA. 


ClIArTER  III. 

CAPTAiy     STETTARt's     AOENCY — DISTURBANrF.    IN     1707 — VIS.T   np 

TKCUMSKH  TO  THE    SOUTHKKN    TFtlliKS WEATMEUFOUD — SACK 

OK     FOKT    MIMM.S WAR    OF    HIIJ — GKNERAI,   JACKSOn's 

CAMPAIGN RATTLES  ON  THE  TAI-LUSAHATCHEE  ;    AT 

TALLADEGA,  AUTOSSEE,  ETC. — THE  HALI.IBEES — 

DEFEAT    OF    THE  INDIANS  AT    HORSE-SHOK 

BEND — END    OF    THE    WAR. 

In  the  year  1702,  it  was  thought  advisable  hy  the  Eng- 
lish government  to  ap])oiut  a  general  agent  and  superin- 
tendent of  Indian  afi'airs  at  the  south.  Partly  through  the 
earnest  intervention  of  Attakullakulla,  but  cspeeially  be- 
eause  of  his  known  sagaeity  and  influence  over  the  native 
tribes,  this  office  was  conferred  u})on  Captain  John  Slou- 
art.  I'pon  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  appointment,  he 
called  a  great  council  of  dej)uties,  from  all  the  southern 
tribes,  tit  Mobile.  Addressing  the  assembletl  chiefs  in 
their  own  style  of  oratory,  he  explained  to  them  the  rela- 
tions then  existing  between  France  and  J^higland,  imjiress- 
ing  u})oii  them  the  idea  that  all  residing  cast  of  the 
Mississijipi,  must  now  look  to  the  English  for  suj)plics  and 
protection.  He  directed  his  harangue  to  the  several 
niitions  in  sejtaratc  succession,  })romising  entire  aiunesly 
to  all  who  had  taken  up  the  hatchet  in  behalf  of  the 
[•'rcnch;  commending  those  who  had  remained  faithful  to 
the  Mnglish;  and  excusing  tho.se  who  had  sided  with  the 
enemy,  as  the  victims  of  di'ee})tion. 

It  was  propoi'ed  to  adopt,  at  this  time,  a  more  just  and 
equable  policy  towards  the  Indians  than  had  heroloforo 
been  usvd,  and  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  secure  them 
against  the  deception  of  unprinci})led  speculators.  Atl'airs. 
accordingly,  looked  ])eaeeful  and  prosperous  for  somo 
years,     'i'hc  nati\es  ma'ie  over  a  large  additional  tract  of 


zh 


INDIANS  OF  THK  SOUTIIKUN  STATES. 


403 


land  to  tlic  growing  colon j  of  Georgia,  to  be  sold,  and  tli<) 
avails  aj>plied  to  the  discharge  of  the  heavy  debts  they 
had  incurred  for  supplies  of  ammunition,  clothing,  &r. 
The  following  circumstance  sudiciently  evinces  the  policy 
(ifiiiild  measures  t(nvai'ds  tilt;  Indians:  In  17<)7,  the  white- 
iiiiviiig  made  enci'oachments  upon  the  Indian  lands,  some 
(if  the  Creek  warriors  bei^aii  t(j  retaliate  by  stealing  hoi'ses 
wliii'h  they  found  n]n)n  their  own  territory.  A  l)arty  of 
tlu.'iu  also  attacked  a  store  at  Trader's  Hill,  on  the  St. 
Maiy'.s,  belonging  to  one  Lcmmons,  and  after  ])lunderin^ 
it  of  its  contents,  burned  the  buildings.  Some  of  the 
whites  pursued  these  marauders;  recovered  the  stolen 
lioFrios;  laid  hands  upon  what  valuable  good.--  they  could 
(li.scover,  and  destroyed  the  villages  of  the  olf'Miders.  l''ar 
less  important  alfairs  have  often  led  to  long  and  bloody 
wans  with  the  natives;  but,  in  this  instance,  Governor 
Wright,  at  Savannah,  restored  [jcrfect  quiet  by  decreeing 
mutual  restorations  and  compen.sation. 

No  events  of  very  striking  interest  connected  with  the 
Indians  of  the  Southern  States,  call  for  our  attention  frota 
this  period  to  that  of  the  wars  with  the  western  tribes  in 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  Until  they  became, 
to  a  certain  extent,  involved  in  those  hostilities,  they  i-e- 
maincd  in  comj)arative  peace  with  the  American  wdiitcs. 
After  the  termination  of  the  revolutionary  war,  and  the 
ostahlishment  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States, 
the  intrigues  of  opposing  j)arties  no  h^iger  ojiera.ted  to 
fuaicnt  disturbance,  or  to  tempt  the  unfortunate  .savage.s 
to  engage  in  quarrels  where  they  had  nt/tliing  to  guin,  and 
whichever  resulted  in  their  final  discomfiture. 

IJy  a  .steady  increase  of  number.^,  and  the  adventurous 
.'spirit  of  pioneers,  th(!  white  settlers  every  where  made 
advances  \\\\o\\  the  Indian  territory.  Sometimes  large  ae- 
quisitions  would  be  made  by  a  goveri  rnent  purehii.sc;  but, 
to  no  small  extent,  the  opinion  .:    «  the  occupation  of  a 


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Ay 


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9^  u 


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1,1 


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40t 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


few  roving  savages  could  give  no  natural  title  to  lands,  ns 
opposed  to  the  claims  of  those  who  had  reclaimed,  iiicluseil, 
and  improved  the  wilderness,  sutisfied  the  consciences  of 
the  cncroachers,  '^Fhe  argument  in  favor  of  this  eonchi- 
sion  is  hy  no  means  without  force;  but  who  can  take  ujioii 
liiiuself  to  draw  the  line  of  demarkation  which  shall  decide, 
upon  any  principle  of  universal  apj)lication,  the  bounds 
of  so  artificial  a  right  as  the  ownership  of  land? 

In  the  autumn  of  1811,  the  great  Shawanee  chief  Te- 
cumseh,  in  pursuance  of  ^is  bold  and  extensive  })laii.s  for 
a  universal  association  jf  the  Indians  against  tin.'  wliitcs, 
made  a  tour  among  tac  southern  tribes.  His  eloquent 
aj)pcals,  and  the  overpowering  energy  which  distinguisheil 
this  truly  great  man,  proved  successful  in  the  winniiii: 
over  to  his  views  of  no  small  number  of  the  Indian  \v;ii'- 
riors,  even  among  those  who  had  long  ))iaiiitaine(l  a 
friendly  intercourse  with  the  Americans  and  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States. 

At  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  war  with  Knulaiid. 
(June  18th,  1812,)  the  whole  western  border  of  the  United 
States  was  in  a  position  of  the  greatest  danger  and  inse- 
curity. The  machinations  of  Tecumseh  and  the  Projjliet 
had  roused  an  extensive  flame  of  vindictive  fei'oeity 
throughout  the  Indian  nations,  while  British  agenl>^,  il  is 
said,  were  widely  dis])ersed,  an.d,  by  munificent  j)r  jinises 
and  artful  persuasions,  had  still  farther  widened  the  breaeli 
between  the  savages  and  their  white  countrymen.  Fri,<^fiit- 
ful  scenes  of  depredation  and  murder  called  for  a  pronij)t 
and  decisive  check.  Many  miiior  forays  are  recorded,  hut 
the  destruction  of  Fort  Mimms  in  the  Tensau  settlement 
of  Mississippi,  in  the  summer  of  the  year  following,  may 
be  considered  the  first  important  part  taken  by  the  soutli- 
ern  tribes  in  the  wars  of  this  period.  We  shall  not  under- 
take, in  our  brief  account  of  the  Indian  campaign  of  ISlo, 
to  keep  up  a  distinction  between  the  different  tribes  of 


.J 


INDIANS  OF  Tilt  SOUTHERN  STATES. 


405 


Creeks,  Cbickasaws,  Choctaws,  Chcrokees,  &c.,  wlio  were 
drawn  into  hostilities. 

Prominent  among  the  chiefs  and  leaders  of  the  soutliern 
confederacy,  was  the  celebrated  Weatherford.  His  mothei' 
was  said  to  have  been  a  Seminole,  l.>ut  he  was  born  among 
the  Creeks.  He  was,  beyond  ({uestion,  possessed  of  many 
noble  and  commanding  qualities,  but  these  were  combined 
with  cruelty,  avarice,  and  degrading  vices.  A  party  o( 
about  one  thousaiul  warriors,  led  by  this  popular  chief, 
fell  uj)on  the  devoted  Fort  Mimms,  on  the  oOth  (jf  Au- 
gu.-;t,  1813.  The  post  was  garrisoned  by  one  hundred  and 
sixty  efficient  soldiers;  the  rest  of  its  occupants,  to  the 
nunilier  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen,  consisted  of  old  men. 
Women  and  children.  The  forces  were  under  the  ecjm- 
iiiand  of  Major  Beasly.  No  regular  i)reparations  had  been 
made  for  the  rece})tion  of  so  powerful  an  enemy,  and  al- 
though the  soldiers  did  their  duty  manfully,  they  were 
overpowered,  an(l  all  slain  e\ee})t  seventeen.  ^Fhe  women 
and  childnMi  having  enseoneed  themselves  in  sevei'al  block 
houses,  met  with  a  more  tiTi'ible  fate.  The  savages  set 
fire  to  the  buildings,  and  consamed  them,  together  with 
their  inmates. 

The  settlers  inhabiting  exposed  districts  were  now 
ohhged  to  fly  for  safety  to  {)laces  of  protection,  and  tin! 
hostile  hordes  of  Indians  wei'c  collecting  their  warriors  for 
farther  inroads  upon  the  frontier.  To  resist  them,  a  largo 
force  was  called  into  rcrpiisition  in  Tennessee,  and  the 
commajid  bestowed  U})on  Genei'al  Andrew  Jackson.  C(j1- 
onel  Colfee,  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  body  of  trooj'S, 
and  such  volunteers  as  could  be  immediately  collected, 
hastened  forward  to  de^'.md  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
Iluntsville.  General  Jackson,  although  disabled  at  this 
time,  by  a  broken  arm,  determined  to  take  the  field  in  jier- 
son,  and  pushed  on  the  necessary  prejjarations  with  all  that 
Wd\  and  e!i.<-rg;\  which  marked  his  character  through  life. 


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400 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKliICA 


News  was  brought  by  some  runiKirs  from  tlic  (;sta])li:;h- 
iiioiit  of  the  Iriciully  old  Creuk  tjliicf  Chiniiaby,  thai  llh; 
enemy  was  aj)j)roacliiiig"  lluiitsville,  or  Foi't  liamiitnii,  iu 
full  iorce.  The  re])ort  was  erroneous,  but,  as  other  rumors 
seemed,  at  the  thiie,  lu  eoiilli'in  it,  the  general  huriied  IiIh 
army  on  to  ivlieve  the  [lost.  'I'his  was  on  ihc  loth  ol'Oc. 
tober  (ISl;;).  j-'rom  Iluntsville,  .Jactkson,  with  his  fwrci  s, 
erosse(l  the  Tennessee,  and  joined  C\>lonel  Cotl'.'e,  who  w;i.s 
j)osted  upon  u  high  blulV  on  tlu;  south  baidc  of  the  livi  i'. 

J''rom  this  ])luee,  Colonel  Colfeo  was  disjiatehcd,  uiih 
seven  huncbvd  men,  to  beat  up  the  enemies'  (juari'Ms  oii 
the  Blaek  Warrior  I'iver,  .vhile  the  eonunandcr  of  tlic 
army  turne(l  all  his  attention  to  seeuring  s<jme  sujiplics  nf 
])rovision  lor  his  I'amishing  troo[)S.  Kneami)ed  in  thi) 
enemies'  eountry,  whit'ier  they  hail  arrived  by  fniiid 
marehes,  the  troops  were  n'-'i'ssarily  exposeil  to  great  liard- 
ship  and  want.  Wl.i-Ie  a'.'  'iting  supplies  at  this  encaiiiji- 
ment,  (Jeneral  J!U.'k.-^on  ha. ..  ;ji  interview  with  Shelocta,  a 
son  of  Chinnaby,  V'hi;  had  come  to  re([uest  assistance  tiir 
his  father  und  friein-s,  '  '  )ekaded  iu  their  fort  by  ihr  h(i>- 
tile  Creeks.  He  -.).i-i  n;  t  a  considerable  force  of  tin,' 
enemy  was  now  ;u  the  v.einity  of  the  Ten.  Islands,  mi 
the  Coosa. 

'I'he  news  was  eonfirmed  by  </tlier  messengers,  and  tlit: 
e'-ur  indcr  proeeedeil  towards  the  Coosa,  to  protect  his 
Lidi.in  allies,  iu>twit)ist,an(bng  the  straits  to  v/bieli  his  men 
were  redueeil  Irom  want  of  ])rovisions.  ^J'he  troops  reachni 
the  Islands  without  eneountering  an  enemy.  On  the  routi', 
Colonel  Dyer  was  detached,  with  two  hundred  mountol 
men  to  fall  upon  Littafutchee,  at  the  head  of  Canoe  Creek,  a 
western  tributary  oi  the  Coosa.  He  aeeomplished  the  ser- 
vice, destroyed  the  town,  and  brought  back  to  the  camj) 
twenty-nine  prisoners. 

While  encamjied  at  the  Ten  Islands,  the  general  ascer- 
tained the  real  rende/.vous  of  the  enemy  to  be  upon  the 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOTTTHEBN  STATES. 


407 


Tallu.^saliatclicc  Creole,  emptying  into  the  Coosa  about  thir- 
teen miles  below  the  encanipmont.  Colonel  CoiVoe,  with 
nine  hvuidrcd  men,  was  promptly  ordered  njion  t\\o  duty 
of  engaging  them.  lie  forded  the  Coosa  at  the  Fish- 
Dams,  and,  approacliing  the  Indian  eamj),  so  disjiosed  his 
forces  as  to  partially  suri'ound  it,  while  si'veral  companies, 
und(!r  (.'aptuin  Hammond  and  Lieutenant  I'atterson,  were 
niarehed  in  to  heat  up  the  enemies'  quarters,  The  savages 
fouglit  boldly  and  des])eratcly,  but  were  overjiowered  and 
driven  into  their  buildings,  where  one. hundred  and  eigh'y- 
six  of  th(.'ir  nund)er  perished,  flighting  hand  to  hand. 
Eighty-four  women  and  child; en  were  taken  ])risoners, 
and  a  munl)er  were  killed,  'us  is  said.  In-  accident,  durifig 
the  melee.  This  l)attle  was  fjught  on  the  3d  ■  >i  Novem- 
ber (1813). 

A  species  of  fortification  was  now  ])repared  at  the  islands, 
and  named  Fort  Strother.  On  the  7th  of  the  monlh,  in- 
formation was  received  that  the  enemy  was  coT.eeling  in 
force  to  attack  Talladega, — a  post  about  thirty  mile-  be- 
low, occupied  by  fri(MKlIy  Indians,-  and  (Jencral  .iack>-  )n, 
with  ncai'ly  his  whole  army,  consisting  of  twel  "e  hu'Hbv'd 
infuitry  and  eight  hundred  jnounted  men,  hasN,  ried  to  its 
rehef.  The  baggage,  the  sick,  aiuA  the  wound<Ni,  were  lei^, , 
under  a  guard  of  protection,  at  Foit  Sti'oilio.-, 

The  river  was  forded  by  the  mounted.  n>  i  ,  each  carry- 
ing on"  of  the  infantry  behind  him,  a  yirocc^s  which  was 
continued  till  thi>  whole  ar'  was  safely  landed  o\  the 
opposite  shore.  It  was  abo  miilnight  when  the  iiarch 
commeni;ed,  and  on  the  evcnmgof  the  ensuing  day,  a  spot 
only  six  miles  fi-om  Tall  icga  was  readied.  J5y  four 
o'clock,  on  the  following  '  orning.  the  troo[)S  were  again 
in  motion;  and,  acting  \  wu  intelligence  obtained  by  rc- 
connoitcring  during  the  night,  General  Jack..oii  war>  ena- 
hlcil  so  to  dispose  his  troops  as  partially  to  suvouinl  the 
c;nn[)  before  the  action  commenced.     It  is  unnccess.iry  to 


!' 


ij 


^1 


'^^is 


i  \  '  ' 


:i:' 


i:;'i' !♦! 


■!!i 


=n1 


408 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMElilCA. 


give  the  details  of  tins  battle.  The  Indians  displayed  both 
courage  and  firnincss',  and  by  the  iinj)etuo«ity  of  tla.ir 
attack,  broke  through  the  line  of  the  advancing  forces  at 
a  jtoint  oeeujtied  by  Cieneral  Itoberts'  brigade.  'I'hcy  were 
driven  in  again  by  a  body  of  reserved  ti'oojis,  bni.  j;iic. 
ceeded  in  making  their  e.seaj)e  to  the  iiujunlains,  tlir.v 
miles  di.stant,  through  an  o[)ening  left  by  some  misculcn- 
lation  in  iIh;  direction  of  the  Americans'  advance.  ''In 
this  battle,"  according  to  Cobbctt,  "the  force;  of  the  cuc.uv 
\vas  one  thousand  and  eighty,  of  whom  two  hundred  ;iini 
ninety-nine  were  left  dead  on  tho  ground;  and  it  is  \<r- 
liijvcd  that  many  were  killed  in  the  flight,  wiio  were  nut 
found  when  the  estimate  was  made.  I'heir  loss,  on  tl,i.i 
occasion,  as  stated  since  by  themselves,  was  not  less  ilmn 
six  humlred:  that  of  the  Americans  was  lilhrn  killed  uiul 
eighty  wounded,  several  of  whom  afterv/ards  died." 

^riie  friendly  Indians,  who  had  been  besieged  in  their 
fort  iXv  this  place,  deprived  even  of  water,  e\j)rcs.-ed  ilie 
liveliest  gratitude  and  exultation  at  their  release.  The 
fat'gue,  exposure,  and  want  which  the  army  \ven>  ecin- 
pellcd  to  undergo,  now  began  to  arouse  a  spirit  of  disenn. 
tent  and  mutiny.  Few  men  have  ever  })o.s.ses.sed  th:it  sell- 
devotion  and  noble  s})irit  of  en(hiranee,  cond)ined  wiiii 
an  inflexibility  of  purpose  never  surpassed,  which  cnahleil 
Jacks(^n  to  (juell  the  disturbances  which  arose,  n\u\  to 
preserve;  the  forces  under  hie  charge  in  a  condition  Ibr 
activ(>  and  useful  service. 

After  the  battle  at  Talladega,  the  Ilallibee  Indians,  who 
were  largely  concerned  in  that  transaction,  sued  for  jieaei'. 
^riiey  were  told  by  the  American  general  that  this  slioiiM 
be  accorded,  upon  condition  of  the  restoration  of  j)hmdeieil 
property,  and  the  delivering  up  of  those  who  had  taken 
part  in  the  massacre  at  Vort  Mimms.  Unfortunately, 
while  these  negotiations  wciu  ponding.  General  Whit*', 
acting  under  orders  independent  of  General  Jackson,  at- 


Jj 


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Su,. 


AN'i)i{i-:\v  .ia;ks.>n  on  his  i"a\. )i;i'n'.  (  iimh.ki; 


rz: 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTIIKKN  STATES. 


401) 


tackt'd  tlic  towns  of  th"so  Iii<li;itis,  dcstroyc  il  many  of 
tlioir  warriors,  and  cai'ricd  oil'  several  Inindrt.'d  capiivcs. 
Supposinj^f  that  this  was  by  .lackson's  oi'd^i-.-,  tlic_\  cxiiccU'd 
IK)  turtlifi"  I'avor,  ami  foULi'lit  tlu'iiMl'trr  w  ith  the  di-jicra- 
tiuii  of  iniMi  to  whom  no  ijiiartcr  was  to  In'  iiivrn. 

'I'lie  result  of  this  Indian  cami>ai;.Mi  was  the  eiitiri>  n^- 
(lurtioii  of  the  hostile  nations.  W'v  ucimI  not  I'eoiunt  the 
vai'ioiis  battles  in  which  llu'V  wen- dclrated  and  desti'oycd. 
The  most  nott'd  of  these  w«i'i.'  at.  Auto.-M'c,  where  sunn; 
two  liundi'ed  wi.'i'e  niassaei'('(l,  on  the  'i'.'th  nf  NovemlKi', 
and  that  of  the  ureal  bend  in  tiie  'rallajionsii',  knuwn  as 
lldi'se-Shoe  IJenil.  At  this  latter  point,  the  Imllans  Ibiti- 
lied  tliemselves  fm'  a  last  and  desi»e'i'ate  stand. 

Tliev  were  suj>[)Osed  to  be  about  om^  thousand  in  nuni- 
her,  and  ha<l  been,  for  some  tinu',  strengthen ini;'  tli'M' 
]K)sitit)n  by  every  means  within  their  n-aeh.  This  was  in 
the  month  of^fareh,  ISli.  On  the  27th,  ( ieneral  .lai'ksoii, 
with  a  force  o^^'  whites  and  fViendlv  Indians,  thi'ce  times 
the  nmuber  of  the  enemy,  C(jnnneneeil  opeiatiiMis  a,:iaiiist. 
the  fort,  (ieneral  Coll'-'e,  with  most  of  the  cavalry  ami 
Indian  allies,  was  directed  to  stirround  tlu'  beml,  in  order 
to  cut  off  all  retreat  across  the  I'iver.  Tlie  plaec  was  then 
carried  bv  storm,  under  a  lieavv  lire  frtjm  within.  .More 
than  half  the  Indians  were  kilh'd  at  the  fort,  and  an  un- 
known number  perished  in  their  endeavors  to  eseajie  by 
crossiu'i;  the  river,  besot  as  it  was  bv  the  assailants.  Some 
have  assorted  that  })robably  not  more  than  twenty  ever 
reached  a  place  of  safety.  At  a  time  when  it  was  evident 
that  the  fbrtuno  of  the  day  was  decided,  Cleneral  Jackson 
sent  a  messenger,  with  a  Hag  of  truce,  to  invite  a  surrt'iider , 
hut,  from  ignorance  or  desperation,  the  savages  lired  upon 
the  bearer  of  the  flag.  After  this,  no  mercy  was  shown: 
until  night  })ut  an  end  to  the  work  of  destru('tion,  they 
..'ere  shot  or  cut  down  wherever  ihev  could  be  Ibund,and 
even  on  the  following  moruing,  a  considerable  nundjcr  were 


(       I 


'    I 


^t 


>  • 


J  .1 

I-  ' 


i'M 


410 


IXDIAX    llACES  OF  AMIMIICA. 


forrotod  out  from  tlic  "caves  nnd  roeds,"  wliore  tliey  har! 
S(MJ<^lit(!oiiceiilnii'iit,  und  remorselessly  put  to  death.  Sev- 
end  liiuidred  women  and  children  were  made  caiitivcs. 
'I'hc  loss  of  the  attaekiii;^  iiriny,  in  this  battle,  was  firty-livc 
kilh.'d,  and  duc  hundred  and  ft)rtysix  wounded. 

In  the  ensiiin;^  month,  (April,)  GeneralJaekson  liaviii;: 
effected  a  junction  with  the  troo])s  from  Georgia,  umlor 
Colonel  Milton,  received  a  deputation  from  tlu;  jirincjp.il 
hostile  tribes,  expressing  a  wii>h  for  j)eace.  'J'he  gencml 
dcnumded,  as  one  condition  ujion  which  he  wonld  treat 
and  as  a  test  of  the  sincerity  of  the  j)roposal,  that  the  great 
but  notorious  Weatherford  should  be  delivered  up  tur 
j)unishment.  'i'his  chief,  hearing  of  tli(>  retpiisitioii,  ami 
lio])eless  of  fuilher  success  in  resistance,  came  voluntarily 
to  the  American  camp,  and  presenting  himself  before  tin,- 
commander,  wiUi  characteristic  dignity  and  composinv, 
requested  peace  for  his  people,  and  announced  his  own 
submission  to  his  fate,  wdiatcver  it  might  be. 

His  speech  on  this  occasion  is  given  as  follows:  "T  am 
in  your  })ower — do  with  mo  as  you  j)lcasc — I  am  a  soldier. 
J  have  done  the  whites  all  the  harm  I  could.  T  have 
fought  them,  and  fought  them  bravely.  If  1  had  an  aiiuy, 
1  would  yet  fight — I  would  contend  to  the  last:  but  1 
have  none.  My  people  are  all  gone.  I  can  only  weep 
over  the  misfortunes  of  my  nation." 

On  being  told  that  he  was  still  at  liberty  to  depart,  and  that 
no  favor  would  be  shown  to  him  or  his  nation  uidess  tluy 
should  submit  to  whatever  terms  the  wdiites  should  see  lit 
to  impose,  he  replied:  "You  can  safely  address  in.'  in 
such  terms  now.  Th.cre  was  a  time  when  I  could  have 
answered  you — there  was  a  time  when  I  had  a  choice— 1 
have  none  now.  I  have  not  even  a  hope.  I  could  once 
animate  my  warriors  to  battle;  but  I  cannot  animate  tlio 
dead,  ^fy  warriors  can  no  longer  hear  my  voice.  Tluir 
bones  are  at  Talladega,  Tallusshatchee,  iMuuckfaw,  andTc- 


:ij 


INDIANS  OF  THE  oOUTHEUN  STATKS. 


411 


liopelv'iv.  ■•**•'**  You  arc  a  brave  man ;  I  rely  upon  your 
genercsity.  Vou  will  oxuct  no  terms  of  a  eoniiucred 
IM'ojilo  I'Ut  siicli  as  they  should  aocode  to." 

This  was  the  hist  imi)ortant  incident  of  the  canipuign. 
The  Indians  submitted  to  the  (betation  of  tlic  whites,  and 
retired  to  the  districts  assigned  them,  eastward  of  the  Coosa. 


CIIAPTKR  IV. 

TIIF,    REMOVAL    OF    TIIK    CUKKOKKES    WKST    01'    TIIF,    MISSISSIPPI 

PKi:SE.NT   LOCATION   AM)  CONDITION  OF  TIIK  OTlIKll  TIUUKS 
OF  THK  SOUTHEKN  STATES. 

"Bearing  a  people  with  nil  its  liouscliold  (ioiIh  into  exile, 
Exile  without  an  end,  und  without  an  example  in  story. — " 

IjONgff.llo\v. 

But  a  few  years  have  passed  since  the  Cherokces  were 
in  the  peaceful  occu})ati(»n  of  an  immense  and  fei'tih'  ter- 
ritory in  the  northern  part  of  Georgia,  They  nunilifioil 
not  far  from  eighteen  thousand,  and  were  increasing  in  a 
rati(;  which  attested  their  power  of  self-suj)j)(jrt  ami  im- 
provement. Thev  had  made  advances  far  beyond  ino.-t 
of  their  red  brethren  in  the  arts  of  agriculture  and  manu- 
flictures.  A  system  of  legislation  adaj)ted  to  their  e;i]iaei- 
ticsand  wants  had  been  established,  and,  generally  speaking, 
the  nation  exhibited  a  ])raiseworthy  sj)eetacle  of  sobriety, 
iiulu.stry,  and  good  order.  They  were  in  possession  o( 
about  eight  millions  of  acres  of  land,  and  their  ability  and 
inclination  to  cultivate  it,  may  appear  from  the  statistics 
of  their  stock  and  agricultural  im})lements.  In  1820,  they 
were  the  owners  of  seven  thousand  six  hundred  horsc.>^, 
twenty-two  thousand  cattle,  forty-six  thousand  swine,  and 
two  thou.sand   five   hundred   sheep.     ''There  were  in  u.<(.' 


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23  WEST  MAiN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


412 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


lunori!;;  tlicm  t.\vo  tliousaiul  nine  liundrcd  and  firtv-ilirce 
plou;jflis,  and  one  Imndrod  and  scvtMity-two  wajnns.    Tlicy 
occupied  tlicir  territory  under  the  treaties  enti'ivil  i;;,, 
and  within  the  hounds  assiLHied  at  the  ncL'^otiations  In'tuirii    ' 
the  eoiiCederate  states  and  the  Indian   ti'ihes  of  the  s^/nh     ' 
at  thr  close  of  the  I'cvolutionary  war. 

In  tlic  year  1802,  when  the  lon^u'-vexeil  (|ncsti<>ii  df  il,.' 
lioundarics  oi"  the  state  of  Cieoriiia  was  (Inidly  scttlid.  t!i.' 
I'niti'd  Stat(!.s  stipidatcd  to  extiiiLiuish  th(,'  titii-  of  ;'.,■ 
Ciicrokees  lo  tlie  lands  tlu'U  in  their  poss(>ssiou,  "as  c:\:]\- 
as  the  same  eould  be  peaceably  obtained,  upon  I'easonaiM' 
terms." 

As   the   states  of  (-eorgia,    Alabama,   and   Mi>siss;j.i,i    ; 
increased  in  power  and  population,  tlii'y  became  more  ai.il 
more   impatient   of   the  existence   of  self-govei'iiiiiLr  ainl 
independent  tribes  within  their  bcnindaries,  and  bciiaii  to 
exert  a  eonti'ol  over  them  in  some  instances  exeeeiliii'jiv 
unjust  and  oj>pressi\^e.     Strong  efforts  were  made  t(»  iiidiic.' 
an  emigration  of  these  Indians  to  the  west,  which  were  in 
some  measure  successful,  and,  jirior  to  1^29,  a  cessidii  dp   ' 
sale  of  a  vcrv  large  district  had  been  ol)tained  finm  il.e   ■ 
Cherokees.     Tlie  nienibers  of  this  tribe,  naturally  attaclnij 
to  the  beautiful  country  in  which  they  had  passed  tlii.ir 
hves,  finally  determined  to  retain  ])ossession  of  what  le-   '. 
niained  of  their  hinds,  and  to  allow  of  no  further  salv.s 
to  whites. 

In  Decendjcr,  of  the  above  year,  tlic  state  of  rioer-ia 
pass(Ml  a  series  of  acts  which  justly  aroused  the  fears  ai.il 
indignation  of  the  Indians,  and  excited  a  feeling  of  syia- 
palhy  in  their  behalf,  as  powerful  as  extensive.  Tho  L/.vh 
of  the  state  were  declared  to  be  in  full  force  over  all  tiie 
Aborigines  within  its  limits;  the  regulations  and  jirnvi- 
sions  of  the  Cherokee  council  were  declared  invalid  and 
void;  heavy  penalties  (amounting  to  years  of  imprisMH- 
ment  at  hard  labor)  were  awarded  against  any  Chcruk.' 


roasii'.Kiii.i.: 


INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  .STAI'i:S. 


-113 


wlio  sliould  "endeavour"  to  oppose  eini^^'raliou;  ;uitl  it 
\v;us  eviMi  oiia(tt(>(],  liy  the  fifu'ciith  section,  ''tlial.  no  In- 
dian, or  (IcsciMidunt  of  an  Jmliun,  within  llic  ( 'licroi^fe 
nation  of  Jmlians,  .^liall  be  a  eoinpetent  witnc-s  in  any 
court  of  (Jeor;^ia,  in  a  suit  in  wliieh  a  wliit(!  man  is  ;i  party, 
iiiiloss  sneli  white  man  I'esidcjs  within  said  nation." 

Notwitlistanding  the  advi-rsc  opinions  of  nianv  of  tlie 
ablest  jui'ists  in  tlie  (^onntry,  as  to  tlu^  eonstitutionalitv  or 
valiihty  of  these  and  oihci"  provisions  ol"  the  (,Jeoi-;jia  h'L(is- 
latmv,  and  even  a  de<;ision  a,ii;ainst  them  in  tlir  Siipivine 
Ci^iu't  of  tlie  United  States,  they  were,  to  a  cfi'tain  cxtiMit, 
cuforeed.  'Fhe  situation  of  the  Indians  bccanK',  in  consc;- 
(|'i('ncf>,  so  preearious  and  uncomfortable,  that  a  eou.-idcr- 
a!i!e  }»ai-ty  was  formed  among  them  of  those  fivorablc  to 
niiifnition.  At  the  head  of  this  faction  was  Major  Ikidii'e, 
wliilc  the  celebrated  John  Koss  was  tlu'  l(;adcr  of  tho.-.(; 
opposed  to  tlio  movement — a  very  large  n-ajo-i-ity  of  the 
nation. 

blatters  continued  in  a  disturbed  and  nn'inirt  stato, 
until  ls;)o.  At  this  time  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Schci'nirrlioi'ii 
was  deputed  by  the  United  States  executive  to  bring  about 
a  treaty  whereby  the  Cherokees  should  remove  peaceably, 
rii-cciving  a  reasonable  compensation  for  the  improvcnu'iits 
which  they  should  leave  behind  them. 

The  negotiation  appears  to  have  been  conducteil  as  nunt 
Indian  treaties  have  been,  wherever  a  specific  object  was 
to  he  gained.  Notice  was  given  of  a  council  to  be.  hrld, 
•tnd  a  collection  of  those  favorable  to  the  proposed  emi- 
gration ratified  a  treaty,  by  wdiich  the  whole  ti-il)e  was 
bound  to  remove  within  two  years.  Notwithstanding  the 
obvious  want  of  authori^y  on  the  part  of  those  indi\idual.s 
to  hind  the  nation,  and  a  remonstrance  signed  by  the  thou- 
sands \\ho  opposed  the  treaty,  it  w^as  ratified  by  Congress. 
An  appropriation  was  made  f)r  the  indemnification  of 
those  who  should  suffer  loss  by  being  torn    fr<^m   their 


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INDIAN   RACES   OF  AMERICA. 


lioini.'.s,  and  for  the  otlier  cxj)cn.scs  attending  iLo  ininiiitoug 
transaction,  and  nothing  Wiis  left  to  tlic  unlia|)py  Chcro- 
ivL'Cs  but  submission. 

No  resistance  was  made,  as,  inde('(l,  an}-  ojijKisiiidn 
would  have  been  utterly  fruitless.  The  United  States' 
forces,  sent  to  overawe  the  Indians  and  enforce  conu'liaiicc 
with  the  cruel  edict,  found  no  call  for  their  services.  With 
a  commendable  spirit  of  energy  and  pcrsever;inc(^,  ilit' 
Cherokees,  with  their  brethren  of  the  neighborin-j;  tiili<s 
of  the  south,  har'e  pursued  the  arts  and  rcfineniciits  of 
civilization  in  their  new  homes  at  the  west.  Tlicy  ai-o 
now  set  down  as  numbering  not  far  from  twenty-six  thoii- 
sand,  of  whom  by  far  the  larger  portion  is  located  west  of 
the  Mississippi.  A  considerable  settlement,  however,  is 
SLill  existing  in  North  Carolina. 

The  Creeks  or  ^fuscogeeS  have  been  continually  etni- 
grating  westward  since  the  era  of  the  difficulties  bctwcni 
the  southern  states  and  the  Indians  witiiin  their  limits,  in 
1828-9,  et  seq.  They  enjoy  a  tolerably  systematic  furiii  of 
government,  and  are  in  many  respects  })rosperous. 

Without  going  into  a  particular  description  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  other  emigrating  nations,  we  will  coueludo 
this  subject  with  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  ujiou 
"The  problem  of  civilization,"  to  be  solved  in  the  fiUnrc 
history  of  these  races.  "Whatever  doubts  have  existed, 
heretofore,  in  regard  to  the  satisfactory  solution  of  this 
question,  they  must  now  give  way  before  the  cheering 
results  that  have  attended  the  philanthropic  ef[<.)rts  that 
liave,  from  time  to  time,  been  made,  and  are  at  present 
going  on  among  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Chiekasaws, 
and  Creeks.  These  tribes  yielded  their  country  cast  of 
the  Mississippi,  rendered  dear  to  them  by  the  associations 
of  youth,  their  traditions,  and  the  graves  of  their  fathers. 
They  had  learned  the  great  truths  of  Christianity,  and  the 
arts  of  acrriculture,  and  of  civilized  life;  yet  they  gave  up 


J 


iiig  trihi's 


IXDIAXS  or  THE  SOUTUERN  STAlEi^. 


4i; 


all,  and  S(Miglit  a  new  liomc  ir.  the  far-oQ'  wiUIerncs?,  aiui 
have  made  in  that  wddcrness  fniiirul  and  rich  I'arnis,  Jind 
flourishing  viliiigos.  Some  of  their  seliools  are  of  a  high 
urIiT.  The  gosjH'l  ministry  is  well  uttendecL  Some  of 
tlieir  constitutions  are  pui'i'lv  I'fjiuhlican.     Tlie  jieoplc  ai',- 


il) 


.Peace  <l\vells  within  their  limit,- 


increasing  in  nuniDe'i's. 
and  plcntcousness  within  their  Ixjrders;  civilization  upon 
Christian  prineijiles;  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts; 
and  schools.  AVith  these  primary  and  fundamental  jirin- 
ciplcs  of  human  hapjiiucss,  civilization  among  them  is  no 
longer  problematical." 


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NORTHERN   RACES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    KSQUIMAUX:    THKIK    MANNKRS  ANO  PERSONAL  APPKARANCE— 
ACCOUNTS  OF  K AK],V  VOVAOKHS — ESliULM A L'X  11  AlilTATIONS,  FOOD, 

ETC. TIIK  KAIAIC  OK   'ANOK SKAMNn — TIIK   HKIN-DKKR — 

USES    OF    THi:    noi; — I'ATI!  I.\  IJCHAL  GOVKH  NMENT — 
EKKKI  TS  OF   FOKKKi.N     I  NTKIironUSK. 

*•  Sompor  hyoms:  sompor  spiraiiti'H  IVii^oni  Ciiiiri." 

ViKGIU 

There  is  little,  besides  some  analo'ncs  in  laiioinnue,  to 
coiineet  the  uncouth  race  wliicli  forms  the  subject  of  tiiin 
chapter  with  tlie  inhabitants  of  tlic  more  genial  climates 
of  North  America  The  Esquimaux  are  spread  over  a 
vast  region  at  the  north,  dwelling  ])rincipally  u})on  the 
sea-coast,  and  upon  the  numberless  inlets  and  sounds  with 
which  the  countrv  is  intersected.  There  is  a  striking  sira- 
ilarity  in  the  language,  habits  and  appearance  of  all  the 
tribes  of  the  extreme  north,  from  Greenland  to  Bheriug's 
Straits. 

Chai'levoix  gives  a  very  uninviting  description  of  tlieir 
]HM's(>iial  aspect.  lie  tells  us  that  there  are  none  of  the 
American  r;ces  who  approach  so  nearly  to  the  idea  usu- 
ally entcilained  in  Europe  of  "savages"  as  do  the  Esqui- 
maux, In  striking  contrast  to  the  thin  beard  (for  the 
most  part  artificially  eradicated)  of  other  American  abo- 
rigines, these  ])CO]>le  have  that  excrescence  "^Z  vpiv'sse 
jusq  \uix  j/ciLi,  (ju''un   a  2)"->i<-'  o  decuuvrir  \judqiics  traiti 


r:= 


N()l;TlIEliN  RACES. 


417 


de  kur  vi'sagc.^^  Ti  n)vcrs  tlicir  faces  nearly  to  tlic  oyos; 
so  that  one  can  scai'ccly  (lisrni;j;uisli  .^onic  features  of  their 
couDtenance.  They  have,  tnoreover,  lie  says,  soniethin;^ 
hideous  in  i1m  ii- gciieral  aspect  ami  ilenieanor-  small,  wiM- 
l(H)kin'4  eves,  larL:e  ami  very  foul  teeth,  the  hair  ueiuM'altv 
bhick,  hut  sometimes  fair,  and  always  in  extreme  disurilei", 
and  their  whole  e.Nterior  rouifh  and  brutish.  Tiieir  man- 
ners and  character  do  not  falsify  this  unprcixtssessin'^j 
I'livsio^u'uomy.  TlKy  are  savaiii.',  rude,  suspicious,  unipnet, 
aiul  always  evil-disposed  towards  strangers.  He  considers 
tlieir  (air  li^ir  and  skin,  with  the  slight  general  resomhlanco 
tlicv  hear  towards,  and  the  limite(l  intercourse  they  carry 
on  with,  the  iieighl.'oi'ing  natives,  as  imlisputalde  evidence 
of  a  st'parate  oi  igin. 

Pi'ichard  says,  that  "the  description  given  Ly  Crantzof 
the  Greenlandcr-,  ma}'  well  a})ply  to  the  whole  race.  They 
are.  loi-  the  most  i>arr,  under  five  feet  in  stature.  Thev  have 
wcil-shajied  and  }irMportioned  lind)S.  Their  face  is  com- 
inenlv  hroail  and  flat,  with  hiiili  cheek-bones,  but  round 
and  plump  cheeks;  their  eyes  are  little  and  black,  but  de- 
veid  of  sparkling  fire;  their  nose  is  not  flat,  but  small,  and 
projecting  but  little;  their  mouth  is  little  an<l  I'ound,  and 
the  under  lij)  somewhat  thicker  than  the  other,  'fhey 
have  universally  coal-black,  straight,  strong  and  hjng  hair 
on  their  heads,  but  no  beards,  bccau.se  they  root  it  out."— 
These  last  particulars  will  be  seen  to  be  variant  from  the 
description  given  above  by  Charlevoix,  of  the  race  in 
general. — Crantx;  proceeds:  "Their  hands  and  feet  are  little 
and  soft,  but  their  head  and  the  rest  of  their  limbs  arc 
large.  They  have  high  breasts  and  broad  sliouldei's ;  their 
whole  body  is  fat." 

T\\Q  descriptions  handed  down  by  the  mo.st  ancienti 
voyagers  to  Greenland  of  tlie  Skrtellings  or  natives  whom 
they  encountered,  corresponds  very  nearly  with  the  gen- 
eral outline  above  given.  They  spcalc  of  them  x-i  a 
27 


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413 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMKUKA. 


flwjtrli.^li  jK'()j)l(>— scl(l(jm  iiioro  tlian  I'uur  feel  four  incinH 
ill  liei^^dit;  suspicious  and  hostile  towards  straii.ircrs;  suli 
sistiug  uj)oii  the  ])rodurts  of  the  sea;  clothed  in  tlic  samo 
style,  and  usiii,L^  the  same  wea{)Oiis,  boats  and  iniplrnicnts, 
as  those  still  iidiabiting  the  eountry.  'Die  iiilios])i;;ililo 
natur<3  of  their  climate,  their  slender  resources,  and  the 
deterioration  of  the  race  consequent  upon  such  a  mode  of 
life  as  theirs,  seem  to  preclude  the  probability  ol"  iiiiuh 
imj)rovcment  ever  taking  ])laee  in  their  condition. 

The  Ksipiimaux  received  little  better  treatment,  at  the 
hands  of  the  early  Kurojiean  discoverers,  tlipn  di<l  their 
brethren  farther  south.  Jt  is  strange  to  read  of  the  enul- 
ncss  with  which  those  adventurers  speak  of  the  enorniitio.-? 
committeil  not  nnfrcqucntly  against  the  unoflending  iiiid 
ignorant  natives.     The  meeting  with  several  "wild  iiK'n," 

CD  O  ' 

and  the  killing  one  of  them  "to  make  the;  rest  traetahlc,' 
is  mentioned  us  u  passing  and  ordinary  event. 

In  Frobisher's  exjjcdition,  after  a  skirmish  in  wiiich 
nrany  of  the  Indians  were  killed,  two  prisoners  were  taken. 
One  of  them,  an  old  woman,*  was  so  disgustingly  hideeus 
in  her  whole  appearance  that  suspicions  were  entertained 
lest  she  shoidd  be  the  devil  himself;  and  the  ca})tors  pro- 
ceeded to  pluck  off  her  buskins,  in  order  to  satisfy  them- 
selves  as  to  whether  the  cloven  hoof  was  not  concealed  by 
them.  The  other  captive,  a  young  woman,  with  a  wounded 
child  in  her  a^rms,  was  retained,  but  the  old  hag  was  dis- 
missed as  being  too  revolting  an  object  to  be  endured. 
When  attempts  were  made  to  apply  remedies  to  the  wound 
of  the  child,  the  mother  "licked  off  with  her  tomrue  the 
dressings  and  salves,  and  cured  it  in  her  own  way." 


John  Davis  was  disposed  to  treat  them  more  1-; 


imllv 


than  most  of  his  predecessors,  but  his  indignation  was 
finally  excited  by  their  "practising  their  devilish  nature," 
and  he  allowed  his  men  to  retaliate  upon  them  in  some 
measure- 


:J 


NOinilKUN  UACKS. 


419 


NotwillistaiidiiiL'  tlioliad  character  ^'ivcn  of  tliis  people, 
it  appt'irs  that,  alter  tlicir  first  sns{)ici()iis  arc  allayi'd,  tliey 
prove  gentle  aii<l  tractable  associates;  and  are  l>y  no  iiicaii^ 
wnntinL'  in  nrhanity  and  kindliness.  I  low  readily  their 
gnspicions  are  allayed,  will  appear  from  the  account  of 
Captain  I'aek's  first  meeting  with  a  small  party  of  Kscpii- 
maux.  They  were  seen  at  a  short  distanci',  gathering  iu 
exciteil  groups,  (^r  running  ahout  at  their  wit's-end  with 
.'(.■Jtonish merit  at  the  ai>pearaiicc  of  these  "KaViloonds"'  or 
Iviropeans,  Ix'ing  the  lirst  they  had  (>ver  seen.  When  the 
I'iiiglish  began  to  advance  towards  them,  they  wei'c  at  first 
npellcd  l)y  wild  outcries,  and  g(.'sticulations,  and  by  hos- 
tile demonstrations  with  the  spears,  which  formed  tin; 
weapons  of  the  Indians.  'J'he  uneouth  grouj)  stood  in  a 
semi-circle,  "yelling  out  some  unintt'lligiblc  word,"  as  tluj 
captain  l)oldly  and  composedly  walked  up  to  them,  and 
made  signs  of  peace,  throwing  up  his  liands,  as  he  observed 
tlioni  to  do,  and  calling  out  "Tima" — (peace).  "In  an 
instant  their  spears  were  flung  to  the  ground;  and,  putting 
their  hands  on  their  breasts,  tlu^y  also  called  out  Tima, 
with  much  more,  doubtless  greatly  to  the  purpose." 

Any  attempt  to  give  a  connected  history  of  the  Esqui- 
maux, from  the  time  of  their  first  intercourse  with  P]u- 
rojieans  would  necessarily  resolve  itself  into  a  narrative 
of  the  various  polar  expeditions.     The   progress  of  the 
Christian  missions  upon  the  coast,  could  we  afibrd  space 
to  enter  upon  it,  might  throw  some  light  upon  the  natural 
i   endowments  of  the  race;  but  we  nuist  content  ourselves 
I   with  a  few  general  descriptions,  cited  indiscriminately  from 
j   dillercnt  authors. 

I       The  dwellings  of  the  Esquimaux  consist  either  of  move- 

'   able  tents,  constructed  of  poles  and  skins,  in  the  style  of 

an  ordinary  Indian  wigwam,  or  of  regularly  arched  domes 

of  snow  and  ice.     The  precision,  rapidity,  and  geometrical 

\   accuracy  which  they  disj)lay  in  shaping  the  blocks  of  which 


(    ■  41 


,     ^:i 


■A 


;  .j'3 


I  •  T  * 

is  * 


,1     I 


t  \v, 


+  ^jff-'l     j'l  I     i 


420 


INDIAN'  i:a(.'k.s  of  amkhica. 


thcao  snow  lints  are  oomposod,  exeilo  tlie  admiration  of 
tlic  1)L'li()l(lcr.  An  art  wliich  the  arcliitects  of  the  ancient 
nations  of  EnrojK!  never  aecjuired — ^the  fi^rmation  of  the 
arch  liMS  from  time  inmiemorial  LeeTi  in  nsc  amoni^'  lliis 
uiitiitoreil  race.  'I'he  snow  honses  prin'e  as  ti;4lit,  warm, 
and  coinfoi'tablc  as  eonld  ])e  desired;  l)nt  tin;  habits  (jf 
tlic  oecnpants  ren(h>r  tliem  insnfl'erably  oflensivt;  to  llio 
wliites.  Crowded  witli  do^s,  defiled  witli  oil,  blubber,  ainl 
olTal;  and  blackened  by  smoke  and  filth,  they  arc  said  to 
nauseate  even  those  whose  lives  are  passed  amid  the  im- 
]iurities  of  a  whale-ship.  A  j)erson  entci'ing  one  of  tlicsc 
huts  is  obli^^ed  to  creep  throu,<fh  a  low  arched  ])assa^^e  into 
the  principal  apartment,  which,  like  those  leading  from  it, 
])resents  the  ap{)earan(;c  of  a  perfectly-formed  dome,  lighted 
by  a  window  of  transparent  ice  let  into  the  roof. 

^riie  tents,  used  upon  the  migratory  expeditions  in  search 
of  game,  consist  of  skins,  supported  by  a  circle  of  poled 
bent  together  at  the  top,  and  in  severe  weather,  thickly 
lined  within  with  rein-deer  skins.  During  the  long  dark 
night  of  winter,  when  food  is  exceedingly  scarce;  shut  up 
in  these  dismal  abodes;  and  enduring  extremes  of  cold 
and  })rivation  elsewhere  unknown;  the  condition  of  tlio 
Esquimaux  seems  most  deplorable  to  one  who  has  lived  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  of  civilization.  Far,  how- 
ever, from  complaining  of  their  lot,  they  exhibit  a  singular 
cheerfulness  and  equanimity,  even  when  in  the  greatest 
straits.  Parry  speaks,  in  the  following  words,  of  the  mis- 
erable condition  of  a  few  P^squimaux  who  inhabited  a  hut 
in  a  deserted  village,  after  the  rest  of  the  tribe  had  moved 
westward  at  the  aj)])roach  of  spring.  "1'he  remaining 
tenants  of  each  hut  had  combined  to  occupy  one  of  the 
apartments;  a  great  part  of  the  bed-places  were  still  bare, 
and  the  wind  and  drift  blowing  in  through  the  holes  which 
they  had  not  yet  taken  the  trouble  to  stop  up.  The  old 
man  Ilikkciera  and  his  wife  occujjied  a  hut  by  themselves, 


J 


m  sean'h 


NoifiHKUN'  icvrics. 


421 


VN'illiout  any  latiij),  or  a  sin^^lc  ounce  of  moat  l)olorif^ing  to 
tlit'in;  whilf  tlircu;  .small  skins,  on  wliicli  the  ('Dnncr  was 
Ivim.'',  wi-re  all  that  tlicv  iio.«sess('(l  in  tin-  wav  oTMankots. 
U['oii  tin'  whole,  I  never  lieheld  a  niorc  miserable  sjtecta- 
c'le,  and  ii  seemed  a  charity  to  hope  that  a  violent  juul 
constant  ioulHi  with  which  the  old  man  was  afUietcd, 
would  speedily  combine  with  his  age  and  inllrmities  to 
release  liim  from  his  jiresent  sufVerings.  ^'et,  in  the  midst 
of  all  this,  he  was  oven  cheerful,  nor  was  there  a  gloomy 
countenance  to  be  seen  at  the  village." 

Tli(!  (Icsh  of  the  rein-deer,  musk-ox,  walrus,  and  seal, 
with  fish,  water-fowl,  and  occasionally  the  carcase  of  a 
str;in(le(l  whale,  forms  tiie  chief  nouiishinent  of  the  ivs- 
(piimaux.  Nothing  that  has  life  comes  amiss  to  them,  and, 
although  they  jircfer  cooked  meat  to  raw,  this  preparation 
is  by  no  means  deemed  essential,  'i'lu;  only  vf^getable  diet 
procurable  at  the  extreme  north,  except  at  those  j^laces 
where  the  natives  can  obtain  foreign  articles,  consists  of 
ihf  leaves  of  sorrel,  ground-willow,  &e.,  with  a  few  berries 
an<l  roots. 

"In  eating  their  meals,"  according  to  Parrv's  account, 
"the  mistress  of  the  family,  having  previously  cooked  the 
meat,  takes  a  large  lump  out  of  the  pot  with  her  fingers, 
and  hands  it  to  her  husband,  who,  jilacing  a  part  of  it  be- 
tween his  teeth,  cuts  it  off  with  a  larL'^c  knife  in  that 
positi(^n,  and  then  passes  the  knife  and  meat  together  to 
his  next  neighbor.  In  cutting  off  a  mouthful  of  meat  tin; 
knife  passes  .so  clo.se  to  their  lips,  that  nothing  but  con.stant 
habit  could  in.sure  them  from  th(>  danger  of  the  most  ter- 
rible gashes;  and  it  would  make  an  Knglish  rnotlicr 
shudder  to  see  the  manner  in  which  children  five  or  six 
years  old,  are  at  all  times  freely  trusted  with  a  knife  to 
be  used  in  this  way." 

Most  of  the  birds  and  quadrupeds  upon -which  they  rely 
are  migratory,  and  onl}'  to  be  taken  between  the  months 


(      y 


e  "*M 


'  m^ 


'I  1  ■  1 


f>\ 


'   1 


^m.l 


;■ «« 


sm 


422 


INI»IAN    IIA<'KS   OF    AMKIilTA. 


of  May  :iinl  Octi.Iifr.  In  Murrli,  Apiil  uiid  Miiy,  the  dif. 
fii'iilt  iiml  <l:iii;fi'C()U.s  liiiiiliii;,'  ol'  tlio  .seal  uiitl  wali'iis  is  their 
only  j'l'sou !•<•(, ',  ;iii(l  success  ill  tin'  pursuit  tlicir  only  iv|'ii'_m 
from  sfarvatioii.  Tin'  "kaiak  "  or  caiioi,',  coiistnu'tcil  of 
.sUiiis,  and  cii|ial)lc  <il'  contaiiiiii;,'  but  u  single  person,  is  all- 
esseniial  in  sealdiuiiliii;.'.  (Jreat  (h^xtcrif}''  is  reipiiicij  in 
its  niana'/cniciit,  and  liow  flie  <)j)ei';ition  ol'  llirowiii'j-  iIh; 
tlart  of  liai'|)ooii,  and  of  Hciciwiiig  tlit;  bulky  jucy,  can  Ik-. 
curried  on  in  suH'ty  in  suc.li  a  slender  and  unsteady  cmii- 
veyaiicc,  seems  inconiprcliciiHiijlo  to  tin;  \jn|iraetiscd  tyo. 
'i'lie  (Vail  Ix^at  is  Ixiilt  with  great  cli'gaiico  and  light mv-s.  A 
IVaine  ol' slender  lieaiiisof'  lir  is  e(;iistructed,  twenty  or  tweii* 
ty-livo  feet  in  length,  a  little  less  than  two  feet  in  iMcudtJi, 
and  about  one  I'oot  de<;p.  This  is  entirely  covered  with 
the  skin  of  the  n(;iti(;k,  (jr  .small  .seal,  so  neatly  and  strongly 
sewed  as  to  b(>  perlt;{;tly  wat(!r-tight.  A  circular  hole  ia 
then  cut  in  the  deck,  win-rein  sits  the  solitary  navig.itor, 
urging  tin;  kaiak  forward  by  means  of  a  ])addle  having  a 
blade  at  each  end.  lb;  cannot  founder  so  long  as  he  can 
maintain  an  upright  j)osition.  An  upset  would  be  inev- 
itable destruction  to  one  unaeipiainted  with  tlic  nature  of 
the  craft,  Ijutthe  l']s(piimaux  readily  rights  the  kaiak  under 
sucli  circuinstanctiH,  by  a  dexten^u.s  use  of  his  paddle.  A 
lloat  is  attached  to  tin;  harj)oon,  used  in  striking  the  soul, 
which  prevents  him  from  (■scaj)e  by  diving.  As  he  rt'ap- 
pears,  after  a  momentary  submersion,  his  pursuers  press 
upon  and  speedily  dispatch  him. 

When  the  prey  is  brought  to  land,  the  duty  of  flaying, 
separating,  and  preparing  it  i'or  preservation,  devolves 
upon  the  women.  NrAhing  is  allowed  to  be  wasted,  but 
every  ])orti(^n  of  tin;  carcase  is  a})plied  to  some  useful  pur- 
pose ;  the  fastidiousne.'^sof  the  whites,  touching  the  })ortioii3 
suitable  for  food,  being  utterly  unknown.  The  lean  meat 
of  the  seal  and  otlicr  animals  is  j)reserved  in  various  wavs 
Much  of  it  is  cut  iu  thin  slices,  and  dried  in  the  warm  and 


-I  ■ 


NoinilKIlN  I!A''i;S. 


■\'l.i 


••')' 


Hiii'ikv  iittiiosjilirn'  of  tlir  liuts,  ;iii(l  ii  ('(Hi('tMitrat(Ml  iirticli) 
of  tliud,  ciillcd  "  I'riiiiiiii'Hil,"  is  |»r('{)an'il  by  j)()iin<liiig  it 
with  fat. 

Tlif  \vclcMm(>  event  of  a  \v<'iitiile(l  ur  dcail  wliale  l)eiiit; 
driven  on  sln,>re,  l)rin;.^s  ddwn  the  w  hole  nt'if^hltorinj,'  j)()j)- 
iihitioii  lo  share  in  the  spoih  Nnthine  eonld  lie  more 
\;iliial'l''  to  these  jieoplo  than  the  \arioiis  sulistanees  oh- 
lained  from  the  enoriiious  earease.  The  Mnhbi-r  is  sepa- 
rated ami  ]>reser\e(l  for  oil;  the  coarse  mnsenlai'  tissue 
loriiis  to  ihiMu  a  ]iahitaltle  ai'tiele  of  fooil;  th''  sinews  serve 
fnr  lines  and  eMrd;iL''e;  and  the  \vIiaIed»one  is  made  avail- 
aMi'  liv  tralfK!  with  Mui'ojieans. 

(){'  the  rein-deer,  two  species  furnisli  food  and  elotliin^' 
til  1  lie  iiihaliitaiits  of  the  cold  reL'"ions  of  noi'thei-n  America, 
altlion,:.di,  sinirularly  oiionLdi,  none  of  them  have  succieedcil 
ill  doniestieatiiif^  the  iininial.  'I'hey  an;  acciistomecl  to 
(li.-car<l  IK)  portion  of  tlie  flesh,  and  even  devour  the  coii- 
tiiits  of  ihe  stomacli.  Perhaps  in  no  instane(»  lias  tlu; 
siTvicM^  of  an  animal  j>roved  of  more  sif,nial  aiil  and  eotnfort 
to  any  race  than  that  of  tlio  dog  to  tlu3  Ksqnimanx.  'I'he 
]iiiiieipal  nse  to  whie'li  he  isap]>lied  is  that  of  di'awin<_' tli(; 
pK'(l;rc,  l)Ut,  upon  hunting  excursions,  in  tlu'  summer,  he  is 
lna(l<Ml  with  !i  weitdit,  it  is  said,  of  sonu;  thirty  ponnds. 
The  sledges  in  which  winter  journeys  ai'c  jiei'foi'incd,  are 
drawn  by  a  number  of  do<rs  jirojioilionate  to  tlu?  wei,Lditto 
he  transjiorted,  the  distance  to  be  traversed,  and  j)erhaps 
the  jiossessions  of  the  owner.  4'he  animals  are  vSeparatcly 
connected  with  the  sledge,  at  unequal  distances,  by  single 
thongs  of  leather  or  liide.  The  most  sagacious  and  well- 
trained  of  the  pa(dv  is  placed  at  the  end  of  the  longest 
tether,  some  twenty  feet  from  the  vehicle,  to  act  as  kiader, 
and  the  intelligence  and  certainty  with  which  he  obeys  the 
signal  of  command  from  the  driver  is  very  striking. 

The  whip  with  -which  the  movements  of  the  team  are 
grhded,  and  with  which  the  refractory  or  stiipid  are  disci 


i 


»  I 


'^^. 


^ 


^  ■ 


I       '         -s 

b'iflll 

M 

..iU! 

IIP 

1 

r  '"'-y  u 

4n. 

1 

124 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKlilCA. 


m 


I'  r:i 


.'  i'l'  i 


plincu,  consists  of  a  short  stock — only  eighteen  indie.s  ir> 
length— to  which  a  lash,  long  enough  to  reach  the  leadiii*' 
J(jg,  is  attaclu.'d,  aiul  allowed  to  trail  beside  the  sledge. 
This  lash  is  rendered  pliable  by  a  prtjcess  resorted  to  Ibr 
])re[)aring  leather  Ibr  vari(jus  pur])Oses,  viz :  that  of  rln  'c,',,'/. 
The  o])eriition  is  perfoiuned  l)y  the  women,  and  to  its  ei in- 
stant exercise,  sonic  travellers  attribute  the  bad  eoiidition 
of  their  teetli,  befoi'c  noticed,  'i'he  sledge  is  (;oinpo.~(il  of 
two  I'uiniers,  (jf  w(j(jd  (jr  bone, — sometimes  oi'  liie  juw- 
bones  of  a  whale — connected  by  crcxss-picees  and  hisliiiijs. 
Moss  is  packed  closely  between  these,  ;  nd  s];iiis  ni'e  l.tiil 
u))on  the  top.  'Idle  runners  urt;  jireserviMl  from  wcai',  himI 
made  to  slide  easily  over  the  surface  of  the  snow  by  dial- 
ing them  with  smooth  ice. 

Tlie  Ks(piimaux  perfoi-m  journeys  (jf  sixty  miles  a  dav, 
with  a  single  pack  of  dogs,  and  stcjries,  at  first  glance  al- 
most incredii>le,  are  toM  of  the  distances  accomplished,  and 
the  weights  trans})orted  by  })arlicularly  line  specimens  u!" 
the  breed.  ]5esides  serving  as  a  beast  <jf  burden  and 
draught,  the  Esquimaux  dog  is  a  bold  and  acti\c!  assistant 
in  the  hunt  for  rein-deer,  bear-^,  kc;  but,  singularly  eiioiiMii, 
while  he  will  rush  upon  an  animal  so  much  his  supcrini' 
in  size  and  strengtti  as  the  bear,  he  is  terror-stricken  at 
the  sight  of  the  wolf,  to  whom  he  bears  a  sti'iking  ivscni- 
blancc,  and  with  whom  he  would  seem  more  e([ual!v 
matched. 

Faithful  and  docih^,  and  subsisting  upon  the  coarsest 
riifusi',  tlu!  dog  sup])lies  to  the  Esquimaux  the  j)laee  of  the 
rein-deer,  in  other  high  latitudes,  for  all  laborious  ser\iti\ 
Tie  meets  with  nothing  but  rough  treatment  and  scaiitv 
fare:  his  master  lu^ver  caresses  or  makes  much  of  him; 
but  this  docs  not  jircvent  him  from  forming  the  strong 
attachments  ])eculiar  to  the  race. 

No  where  do  wo  find  a  system  of  jiatriarchal  government 
maintained  in  more  primeval  simplicity  than  among  the 


Jj 


loru   euuallv 


L'^ovcrninent 


NOUTIIEliX  liAi'KS. 


■[■i: 


Ks<iaiinanx,  ainl  no  wIum-c  is  tliut  antliority  more  iniMly 
iidiiiiiiistiTCKl.  l'';uiiilics  and  coniniuiiilii's  live  to.Lietlier  in 
tlie  ^n-eatest  liarni'Miy,  and  no  one  ari'ogatcs  to  liini>elf  a 
(•(iiitrol  over  tlios(^  a1)oiit  liini  l>ryoii(l  the  eirele  oi'  his  own 
family.  Dexterity  and  sueeess  in  llsuinu;  and  hnntini;;  form 
a'liiiist  th(.'  oidy  claim  foi'  admiration  oi'  di.-linction  in  the 
rvi'S  of  this  nnsophisliiMtc'tl  people.  So  pcaceCid  anil  eon- 
ttiit('(l  ;i  lil'c,  amid  the  eternal  snows  ol'  the  noilli,  wilii 
sni'li  fhw  means  of  comfort  and  enjovnient,  stands  (lu'th  in 
.<; liking''  contrast  witli  the  private  disc(.)iit(Mit  and  jmlilic 
animosity  ofmori'  ]>i-i vi!< •,!:;( 'd  nations. 

Where  the  natives  of  (Ji'eenland  and  other  countries  at 
thi'  iioi'th  have  lield  fi'ce  interconi'se  with  I'hii-opeans,  in- 
.-taiices  have  been  found,  amouLT  them,  of  much  liiLflicr 
iiiK'HiLfenee  than  is  usually  attributeil  to  the  I'ace.  Cap- 
taiu  Pari's',  in  his  seeonil  \'oya,ire,  ])artieidarly  de.serihes  a 
finale  nana.Hl  IHgliuk.  Her  correct  ear  foi'  music,  and 
ajiprcciation  of  its  heauties,  were  \cvy  remarkahle;  and 
I'.ie  iiitei'cst  ami  attention  which  all  the  novcd  meeliaiiieal 
arts  exercised  cjii  ho.u'd  the  ship  excited  in  her  mind,  ga\c 
I'viileiice  of  no  little  capacity  for  improvement. 

We  cannot  give  a  l)etter  idea  of  the  edect  whii'h  inter- 
ciiurse  with  foreignei's  lias  ])roduced  uj)oii  some  of  the 
l'!s'[uiniaux,  in  (ihanging  their  ori^iinal  (piiet  and  unohtru- 
sivc  dcuK'anor,  than  by  the  following  quotation  fi-om 
Captain  Lvon: 

"I  could  not  l)iit  compare  the  boisterous,  noisy  ^at  fel- 
l"\vs,  who  wci'c  along-side,  in  excelI(Mit  canoes,  with  well- 
furnished,  iron-lieaded  weapons,  and  handsome  clothing, 
v.'itli  the  poor  people  we  had  seen  at  Soutliamj)t(^n  Island; 
tin.'  latter  with  their  s})ear-heads,  arrows,  and  even  knives 
of  cliip[,ed  Hint,  without  canoes,  wood,  or  iron,  and  with 
their  tents  and  clothes  full  of  holes,  yet  of  mild  rnannei's, 
(['liet  in  s[)eech,  and  as  grateful  for  kimlness  as  they  were 
anxious  to  return  it,  while  those  now  along-side  had,  per- 


!?'! 


./li 


.its; 


M 


m 


!     "11 


!  I  ?& 


'•^1 


■i'^M 


iiiii  0 


if^^:  1  ,^' 


..<* 


426 


INJJIAN  KACES  OF  AMKIUCA. 


haps,  scarcely  a  virtue  left,  owing  to  the  roguery  t]i(>v  huu 
learned  from  tliuir  aninuil  visit  lo  the  IluiLscjii's  llavj^liips 
An  air  of  saucy  independence,  a  most  clamorous  dcuKHKl 
for  i)resent.s,  and  several  attempts  at  theft,  some  of  wliich 
were  successful,  were  their  leading  characteristics.  Yet  I 
saw  not  why  I  should  constitute  myself  the  censor  of  tlieso 
poor  savages;  and  our  barter  was  accordingly  conducted 
ill  such  a  manner  as  to  enrich  them  very  considerably." 


CIIAriEU   II. 

THE  Kstii;iMAi:x  or  .MKiA'ir.LK  rK.\i.\snr,A — thkir  statl'Kk  and 

COSTUMK S.NOW  HUTS  AM)  Tinail  FlJUMTrKK I.Ml'iaC.MKMS 

I'OR    HUNTING  AND  SKALI.\(; .MK.NTAL  Tr.ArrS. 

The  most  complete  i)icture  ever  yet  given  of  Esquimaux 
life  and  j)eculiarities,  is  to  be  found  iti  "Parry's  Sccoiul 
Voyage  in  search  of  a  Xorth-west  Passage;"  particularly 
ill  that  })ortion  of  the  work,  at  the  end  of  the  narrative, 
devoted  to  an  "account  of  the  Esquimaux  of  Mehille  Pe- 
ninsula and  the  adjoining  Islands."  It  is  our  purpose,  in 
this  chapter,  to  give  a  brief  outline  of  the  statistics  and 
details  there  collected. 

Hesjiecting  their  general  appearance,  Parry's  descrip- 
tion of  the  natives  does  not  varv  materially  from  that 
which  we  have  already  given.  He  re])rescnts  their  stature 
as  follows:  the  "average  height  of  the  men,  five  feet,  five 
and  one-third  inches;  of  the  women,  five  feet  and  one-half 
iucli."  The  women  a])pear  shorter  than  this  standanl. 
from  a  stoop  acquired  by  carrying  their  infants  in  a  "hood,'' 
and  from  the  great  bulk  of  their  clothin<r.  Thev  are  nut 
an  ill-formed  race,  and,  among  the  tribe,  were  "three  or 
four  grown-up  peojde,  af  each  sex,  who,  when  divested  of 
their  skin  dresses,  their  tattooing,  and,  above  all,  oi'  their 


s  >ccoii(; 


I 


NORTH KKX  RACES. 


42; 


dirt,  iniglit  liiivc  l)ecn  considered  pleasing-lookii.g,  if  not 
liamlsniiic  pe()})le,  in  any  town  in  iMiropc." 

'riic\'  wear  their  liair  ticnerallv  lon'^-;  the  men  allow- 
ing  it  to  flow  earclcs-sl}',  while  the  women  dispose  it  in 
two  plaits  or  fpies,  which  hang  down  on  each  side  of 
the  face. 

Their  dress  bears  marks  of  no  little  skill  and  nicety  of 
liiiisli,  and  is  admirahly  calculated  to  defend  them  from 
the  terrible  scverit}'  c)f  the  winter-season.  A  double  outlit 
of  jackets,  breeches,  and  bcjots,  made  of  deer  and  scrd- 
skiiis;  the  inner  suit  having  thehaii  ttirneil  inwar<l,  while 
the  out(M'  gai'ment  exhibits  a  hairy  defence  against  the 
i^iinw  or  rain,  is  essential  upon  all  occasions  of  exposure 
to  the  o})en  air.  AVater-}»roof  boots  and  shoes,  made  of 
sial-skin,  foi'm  a  complete  protection  from  the  wet  wln'ii 
till'  men  are  eni^an'cd  in  fishinu"  and  sealin''".  A  warm 
aiiil  comfortable  hood  of  furs  covers  the  head  and  neck, 
and  suri'ounds  the  face.  ^J'hc  most  absurd  and  iingaiidy 
portion  of  tlu;  dress  of  either  sex  is  the  boot  worn  by  the 
women.  This  is  enormously  enlarged,  for  the  purpose  of 
furnishing  a  convenient  pocket  or  general  receptacle  for 
whatever  may  be  carried  upon  the  person.  The  cavity  is 
rvi'ii  large  enough  to  admit  of  a  child  being  stowed  in  it — 
a  common  custom  in  Labrador. 

All  their  clothim::  is  strouijflv  and  neatlv  stitch(Hl,  and 
no  little  pains  is  taken  to  render  it  ornamental  by  a  judi- 
cious arrano;ement  of  liii'ht  and  dark  furs. 

The  tine  Indian  taste  for  beads  and  slunvy  ornaments 
prevails,  and  is  satisfied,  wdien  other  materials  are  want- 
in;:,  by  affixing  numberless  strings  of  the  teeth  of  wild 
animals  to  the  borders  of  their  garments.  In  one  instance, 
"a  row  of  foxes'  noses"  was  seem  "att^ichcd  t(j  the  fore- 
part of  a  woman's  jacket  like  a  tier  of  black  buttons." 

All  the  women  of  this  tribe  were  thoroughly  tattooed. 


The  manner  of  performing  this  operation  was  b\-  passi 


"g 


■i\,;i 


m 


•^1  I  1 


I'm'' 


W'PtM' 


II! 


:i! 


M 


i  > 


ill'        t'l; 


428 


IM>IAN    HACKS  OF  AMKUiCA. 


a  needle  and  tlirrad  tlirouyli  tlic  outer  skin,  the  thread 
being  .saturated  ^vitli  oil  and  lamp-Llaek. 


1'lic  internal  arrangements  of  the  eireular  snow-liuts  in 
Avliieli  the  winter  is  passed,  are  as  follows:  Around  each 
room,  next  the  wall,  a  bank  of  snow  is  built  to  the  hi'l^Lt 
of  two  oi"  thn.'e  I'eet,  upon  whieh  are  plaeed,  hrst  a  euutii.c 
of  j)ebl)lcs,  then  a  row  (jf  tent-[)oles,  paddles,  and  uhalc- 
bone,  and  above  all  a  layer  of  bireh  twigs,  [.'[ion  tliusc 
are  spr^'ad  the  skins  and  furs  whieh  eonstitute  the  biMhlin" 
of  the  inmates.  Jt  is  evident  that  (juite  a  low  tempt.i'aime 
mu- 1  be  maintained  in  order  to  preserve  both  house  aial 
furiuture.  'I'he  ou]y  means  of  warming  the  huts  is  hy  a 
sort  of  lamp,  eonsisting  of  a  shallow  dish  wrought  of  sluiie 
{laiii-i  olluris)^  "its  f  )rm  being  the  lesser  segment  (jf  a  eir- 
ele.  The  wiek,  eonsisting  of  drv  moss  rubbed  between 
the  haiuls  till  it  is  quite  inllammable,  is  disposed  alei;:: 
the  cdi!:ii  of  the  lanii)  on  the  straight  side,  and  a  'Mvatrr 
or  smaller  (puuitity  lighted  aeeording  to  the  heat  leipiircd 
or  the  fuel  that  ean  be  afforded. "  The  llame  is  fed  hy 
the  drip})ings  of  a  sliee  of  fat  or  blubber,  suspended  wilh- 
in  reaeh  of  the  blaze.  The  stone  ])Ots  for  eookimj,'  are 
hung  over  this  lamj),  and,  above  all,  is  a  net,  sti-elclied 
U})on  a  hoop,  wdiereou  wet  boots  and  other  garments  are 
plaeed  to  dry. 

'i'he  general  atmosjdiere  of  the  apartment  is  ke})t  a  lit- 
tle below  the  freezing  point.  Parry  obser\ed  the  tlior- 
niometer,  at  a  time  when  it  fell  to  twent3'-iive  de,i:ret.s 
below  zero  in  the  open  air,  to  stand  at  thij'ty-two  de-iees 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  fire;  and  this  when  the  hut  was 
filled  with  Indians  and  do^i's.  To  inerease  the  wariiitii. 
oceasions  a  ti-oublesome  drij)ping  from  the  roof,  an  iiieun- 
vcnience  to  whieh  the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to  suhii-it 


lookiii'j,'  ure 


inuciits  art' 


NOKTIIEIIN    RACES. 


429 


(luring  some  of  tlic  spring  monllis,  Lefi^rc  the  season  liiid 
become  iiiiM  enougli  for  (Uvelliiig  in  tents. 

'['\\c.  principal  liousehoM  utensils  are  the  lanij)s;uul  pots 
ahove  mentioned,  eei'tain  cups  of  the  horn  of  the  musk- 
nx,  vessels  of  whalebone,  and  the  ivory  or  in)n  knife. 
Tli^'  latter,  or  at  least  the  material  of  which  it  iseom])osed, 
i,-  i)litaine<l  hv  eomnuM'ee  with  the  whites.  Thrv  iiiaiin- 
fiicture  ihrmsclves  a  knife,  haviiiLi;  a  thin  ii'oii  vl'jo  let 
iiiti)  the  hone  which  forms  th(>  blade.  To  a  limited  extent 
■idine  of  the  l']s«|uim;mx  obtain  and  maniiflictuiv  iron  IVoni 
tlie  iron  pyrites  found  in  certain  localities,  and  wdiieh 
serves  them  for  flint  and  steel  in  lii'htinjf  fires. 

The  imjdements  f^r  hunting,  in  use  among  these  Esqui- 
ituiux,  are  simple  but  efleetive.  The  "siatko,"  wdiieh  serves 
the  purpose  of  a  harpoon  in  taking  seals,  walruses,  and 
even  whales,  is  a  particularly  ingenious  contrivatiee.  It 
eoiisists  of  a  short  piece  of  bone,  pi^inted  with  iron,  and 
"cttMched  by  the  centre  to  the  "allek,"  or  long  thong  of 
leather.  The  blunt  end  of  the  siatko  is  titted  to  the'  end 
of  the  diirt,  and  is  attached  by  a  line,  that  it  can  be  dis- 
engaged the  instant  tin;  dart  strikes  the  prey,  h'l'om  the 
iriainier  in  wdiieh  it  is  slung,  it  instantly  turns  at  right 
angles  to  the  direction  of  its  entrance,  and  will  endun;  a 
very  severe  strain  before  it  can  be  drawn  out.  At  the 
other  end  of  the  "allek"  is  tied  an  inflated  seal-skin,  which 
serves  to  bring  the  animal  (quickly  to  the  surface  of  the 
water. 

For  their  bows,  they  arc  obliged  to  use  the  wof)d  of  th(^ 
-^.r-tree,  and,  in  order  to  give  them  the  requisite  strength 
ar.d  elasticity,  they  arc  very  artfully  and  neatly  ser\-efl 
with  lines  constructed  of  sinews.  At  each  end  of  the 
bow,  is  a  knob  of  bone,  and  to  these  the  'Strengthening 
lints  are  attached  and  drawn  tight,  wdiih;  the  bow  is  b'ent 
backwar<L  They  pass  from  end  to  end,  on  the  back  of 
the  bow,  and  are  secured  and  a.ssistcd  by  other  shorter  eordg 


■■■'•■ -1 


4 


* 


)  I  f 


■  I 


ii 


~-7l 


•130 


INDIAN  RACES  OP  AMERICA. 


T\[o  al)Ove  di 


rustcncd  l>y  liitclios  round  the  wood,  i  im  anove  dcsc 
tinii  applies  to  the  best  weapons  of  tlic  sort. — "A  bow  in 
one  piece,"  says  tlie  narrative,  "is  very  rare:  they  ;.rcii- 
erally  consist  of  from  two  to  live  pieces  of  ])(>ne,  of  mic- 
rpial  leiigtlis,  secured  toj^etlier  ]>y  rivets  and  tic(>-iiails.'" 
Tlie  arrows  are  of  wood  and  bone  united,  and  liave  licu'ls 
of  iron  or  slate.  Tboy  will  inflict,  a  mortal  wound  at  a 
distance  of  forty  or  lilty  yards. 

In  the  construction  of  all  these  implements,  a  knife  and 
a  drill  arc  the  principal  tools  used.  The  latter  operates 
with  a  bow,  like  that  in  common  use  among  us. 

It  is  evident  that  intellectual  advancement  is  entirelv 
incompatible  with  such  a  life  as  we  have  described.  Tin.' 
ideas  of  the  Supernatural  entcrtaii;ed  by  the  Kscpiiinanx 
are  vague  in  the  extreme.  "  They  do  not  appear,''  savs 
the  description  in  Parr^',  "to  have  any  idea  of  the  exist- 
ence of  One  Supreme  Being,  nor,  indeed,  can  they  be  said 
to  entertain  any  notions  on  this  subject  which  may  bo  diir- 
nified  with  the  name  of  Keliu;ion." 

Of  certain  games,  consisting  mostly  in  fantastic  distor- 
tions of  the  body,  and  comical  ejaculations,  they  are  never 
weary;  and  a  straii.LiC  monotonous  song,  of  which  the 
words  and  music  are  given  by  Parry,  furnishes  amusenieiu 
until  the  performers  desist  from  sheer  weariness. 

Their  moral  character  is  i)robably  upon  a  par  with  that 
of  most  savages.  They  do  not  possess  the  high,  indomita- 
ble spirit,  the  scorn  of  suffering,  the  clannish  fury  of  j'u- 
triotism,  nor  the  fondness  for  war,  so  commonly  considered 
the  nobler  traits  of  the  American  aborigines;  but,  on  tin.' 
other  hand,  they  arc  more  kindly  domestic  in  their  feel- 
ings, and  less  cruel  and  revengeful  than  their  brethren  at 
the  South. 

They  exhibit  little  gratitude  for  favors,  and  when  ex- 
posed to  the  strong  temptation  presented  them  by  the  pres- 
ence of  such  a  magazine  of  treasure  as  a  foreign  ship,  tliev 


NOKTUEKX   RACKS. 


431 


ftill  generally  indiiliro  in  iiilforinjj^.  Those  travt'llcrs  who 
haveheen  most  familiar  with  tho  strange  rat'c,  accord  to  them 
many  ]>leasiiig  qualities;  whik'  their  vices  are  such  as  must 
naturally  result  I'rom  their  destitute  and  hopeless  condition. 
Their  whole  history  miglit  jirove  unspeakably  valuable  to 
uri  did  we  wisely  gather  from  it  a  lesson  of  content. 


ClIArTHU   III. 

iuE   KNISTKM'.AUX,  CHU'l'lCWAS,  ETC. 

TiiH  KnisteiKMUx,  or  Crees,  arc  a  nation  materially 
I  dlfl'erent  from  the  lv<(piiiiianx.  ^rh(>y  have  a  much  nearer 
rcsomblatice  than  that  jjcopk""  to  the  other  Nortli  Amei'i- 
,  can  tribes,  and,  tVom  cl(>s(!  analoLi'ies  in  language,  are  con- 
sidered as  a  bi'aiich  of  tlie  gr(>at  Algoiupiin  stock,  wlueli, 
centering  in  tlie  Canadas,  spi'cad  over  sueli  an  extent  of 
the  North  American  continent. 

The  country  former!  v  oecupiecl  In*  the  Kinstcneaux — for 
the  ravatres  of  the  small-oox  have  in  late  vears  miserablv 
:   rediK'cd  their  nund)ers — is  of  vast  extent;  lying  between 
;   the  Ignited  States  and  the  Esrpiimaux  region,  and  extend- 
ing westward  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.     ^I'he  line  of  their 
ofxaipation  is  thus  given  b\'  !Nracken/ie:  Conmiencing  widi 
1    the  coast  of  Labradcjr,  it  extends  along  the  north  bank  of 
■   the  St.  Lawrence,  to  ^rontreal.     "The  line  then  foUows 

tlic  Utawas  river  to  its  source;  and  continues  from  thence 
I  .... 

nearlv  west  along  the  hifrh  lands  which  divide  the  waters 

that  iall  into  Lake  Superii:)r  and  Hudson's  Bay.     It  then 

proceeds  till  it  strikes  the  middle  part  of  the  river  AVini- 

pic,  following  that  water  through  the  Lake  ^Vini])ic,  to 

the  discharge  of  the  Saskatchawan  into  it;  from  thence  it 

accompanies  the  latter  to  Fort  George,  when  the  line  strik- 


i 


in 

1'  i, 

■  i 

■■"  '  ■■! 

4 

":h 

■«    .v: 

'I 
■A 


'*    . 


iV 


,fi 


INIMAX   HACKS  OF  AMKIIICA. 


ing  hy  till'  Ih'.'kI  of  lli(<  l^o;iv(M-  Jiivcr,  lo  llir  I'llk  IJIvcr 
runs  aloiiL,f  its  Imiiks  to  its  diseliarge  in  tlic  Lake  of  \]at 
Hills;  IVoni  wliirli  it  may  \n>  carried  back  cast  to  the  k>io 
n  la  Ci'ossc,  and  so  on  to  ("liurcliill  liy  tlu;  Mississiphi. 
Tli(i  wlioli'  of  the  ti'act  between  tins  line  and  IIikI.-mu's 
V>:\y  and  Sliaits,  (cxecjit  tliat  of  the  Ksqniiuaiix  in  tin- 
latter,)  niav  be  saitl  to  be  cxcltisivoly  tlie  country  of  tlic 
Knisteiieaux."  'I'hey  were  also  to  \)e  found  n[ton  Unl 
];i\'er,  (whicli,  after  iinitin,!]r  with  tlic  Apsinid)oin,  emiitics 
into  bake  WinipeL;.)  and  upon  the  south  branch  of  the 
Saskatcliiiwan. 

These  people  ]K>ssess  all  the  ordinary  characteristics  ef 
the  Aniei'iean  Indian;  the  copper  coni])lexion,  l)lack  finw- 
in,!.''  hair,  well-pro]M)rtioned  limbs,  and  keen  black  eves. 
Travellers  H})eak  of  the  women  as  bein<^  far  more  attr:ii'iiv(> 
in  personal  appearance  thati  the, generality  of  srpiaws.  [']<nn 
them  devolves  all  the  drudgery  of  domestic  life,  ^vhill■  the 
men  devote  their  exclusive  attention  to  hunting  orwnr. 

We  notice  no  very  material  variation,  cxce])tso  far  ;is 
climate  and  the  nature  of  their  country  have  adectiil 
their  habits,  between  the  dress,  habitations,  luxuries,  ccie- 
monies,  and  general  usages  of  the  Knisteneaux,  and  the 
ijfreat  body  of  our  western  Indians.  '^J'hcv  are  S]H>kcn  of  as 
of  a  friendly  and  hospitable  disposition,  and  no  more  dis- 
honest in  their  dealings  than  other  savages,  although  some 
hav(5  given  them  the  r(>i)utation  of  being  arrant  thieves. 

Tiittle  of  distinctive  character  attaches  to  the  vai'ious 
minor  tribes  of  the  north,  until  we  reach  the  Esquimaux, 
with  whom  little  or  no  commerce  is  held  by  these  nations, 
and  with  whom,  from  time  immemorial,  they  have  wagtail  u 
desultory  warflire,  ^baekcnzie  describes  individuals  and  vil- 
lages of  the  Red-Knives,  Beavers  Indians,  Dog-l!ibs,  llanos, 
Slaves,  Duguthee  Dines  (quarrcllers),  and  many  otli<M's; 
but  they  have  no  history,  and  few  noticeable  peculiarities. 

Those  farthest  north  arc  of  rather  a  lighter  complex- 


Ilk    lliviT, 

ike  of  lli(' 
to  tlic  \A: 
Iissi<,~i|i],i. 

IIllil.-oli's 

iix  ill  till' 
try  of  the 
upon  ltf>l 
11,  ('iii|itii',s 
K'li  ol'  the 


i"( 


torisfi(.'s  of 
)lnrk  flow- 
ilack  eves. 
;  attnirtivc 

\VS.      rpnil 

,  \vliili'  the 

••  Ol'  war. 

t  'SO  far  as 

C  a(lect''il 

rirs,  eci'e- 

,  and  the 

;i'ii  nl'  us 

more  ihs- 

ULlil  SDUIC 

tliievcs. 
0  vaiious 

ininiaux, 
c  nations, 
c  wawd  ;i 
Ills  and  vil- 
bs.  Hares, 
ny  otliers; 
jiiliaritics. 

conijdex- 


:!'WII| 


ll 


.i!Jl< 


li 


\t 


l.V/>l.1.YS     ir.1TCHl.VG     FOR     S.1f.MO.V 


I'   li 


NOHTHKKN  RACKS. 


4.*;.3 


ion  tliaii  llu'  inhaliitaiits  of  iwow  ti'inporato  cliinos,  iuiil  ex- 
liiliit  the  (Ictorioratiiig  •ulliu'iicc  oC  a  lift!  in  a  coM  ami 
(lc!<olatc  country. 

Some  iiitercstint^  tlctails  of  llu'  lialiits  ami  t'lin.ra(!t(M*  of 
tin;  Do^f-IliUs,  aro  jiivcii  in  \\ir.  acconnt  of  Sir  .lolm  IJicli- 
iinlson's  Arctic  Scan-liinL^  lv\jir(liti<in,  'I'liry  are  ratlirr  ;v 
l»nv  order  nl'  tlic  race,  and  have  \\o\d  suflicicnt  interconrso 
with  the  whites  t(;  lie  a\vai'(i  of  their  owti  (h-ncieiicics  ami 
wants.  They  an;  nevei'theles.s  cheerCnl,  ami  even  hihiri- 
(ius,  an<l  cxhiliit  little  or  none  of  that  proud  and  stoical 
spirit  which  niai'ks  the  more  ceh'hi'atiMl   Indian  nations. 

Tiiey  aro  grossly  iniiirovi(h'nt,  aitliongh  warned  hy  re- 
peated and  terrihh'  e.\'i)ericnce  of  fiiininc  and  snircriii,<r. 
When  game  is  plenty,  a  sccno  of  general  waste  and  I'cple- 
tioii  is  pres(Mited,  to  be  foHowed  hy  the  utmost  misery  and 
want.  In  a  eonntry  wdiere  the  animals  upon  wdiieli  the 
natives  depend  for  subsistence  are  migratoiy  and  uncertain 
ill  tiieir  habits,  sueh  changes  of  condition  must  be  of  fre- 
quent occurrence. 

When  accounts  arc  brought  of  success  on  tlie  j)ai't  of 
tlic  hunting  parties,  the  wdiole  populati(')n  of  a  \il!age  pnt 
tliemsclvcs  at  once  en  route  to  share  tlie  spoil.  If  the  deer 
should  have  shift(>(l  their  rpiarters  bcfire  the  arrival  of  the 
troupe,  and  the  place  of  rendezvous  be  far  fi'om  home,  the 
return  is  accompanied  with  the  greatest  danger  and  dis- 
tress. Many  of  the  aged  and  infirm  are  frerpn^ntly  left  to 
perish  under  such  circumstances. 

Of  several  families  of  this  nation,  with  wdiom  ^^acken■ 
zio  held  .some  intercourse,  he  says:  "They  are  a  meagre, 
u,i:ly,  ill-made  people,  particularly  about  the  legs,  which 
are  very  clumsy,  and  covered  with  scabs.  The  latter  cir- 
cumstance proceeds,  probably,  from  their  habituidly  roast- 
ing them  before  the  fire.  !N[any  of  them  aj^jieared  to  be 
in  a  very  unhealthy  state,  whichvis  owing,  as  I  imagine,  to 
tlieir  natural  filthiness." 
28 


1' 

'il 

1 

i' 

j 

! 


if 


.(^ 


\i 


V    I 


nd 


)■•■ 


m 


il 


# 


,4^ 


434 


INDIAN  HACHS  OF  AMEUICA. 


Tlio  riiippcwiiM  urr  sprcail  over  a  vast  n^'-ion  at  I'no 
lioi'tli,  the   limits  of  wliii'li   it  woillil,  {((.'rliajM,  Itc  iinpos.^i' 
1)1('  ai'iMirat-ly  to  il''liiii'.     Mactkcu/io,   writiii;,'  alioiit  tlii; 
year   I7'.»i»,   hiys  (lnwii   tla;  tract  oocupicd  by  tiilu's  who   i 
spi'ak    siiKstaiitially  tli<;  .same  laii^iUa^^f,  as    follows:  "It 
l)(';^^iiis  at  Cliurchill,  ami  runs  aloii;^  the  liiios  of  scparatiuu   I 
between  llieiii  ;iii(l  the  Kliist(MieaU.\,  Up  tho  Mississippi,  to    ' 
the  IsU;  a  la  ('rosse,  passiii^^  on  thr(;u^h  the  null'ilo  l„ik.', 
River   Lake,  ainl    Porta;/!!  hi   FiOchc:  from  theiue  it  piu- 
Cecils  by  the  MIL'  River,  to  the  I/ike  (jf  the  Hills,  ami  ';in,s  ' 
(breetly  we^t  to  the  l'eae(!  Jliver;  and  uj)  that  river  to  its 
source  ami  tributary  \vat,ers;   from  when(;e  it  ])roeee(ls  to 
the  watei's  of  the  River  ('olumbia;  and  follows  that  ii\iT  i 
to  latitude  fifty-two  de;,q-ees  twenty-four  minutes,  nnith, 
and  loni/itude  f)n(!  hundred  and  twenty-two  degrees  \\i\\- 
four  minutes  west,  where  the  (Jhepewyans  have  the  Atn.ih   j 
or  Chin  nation  for  their  neighbours,     Jt  then  takes  a  duo  [ 
line  west  to  the  Hoa-(!oaMt." 

Tlie  coast  Indians,  (Jti  tin;  I'acifie,  dilfer  from  tlmsi' of  i 
whom  we  are  now  ti'cating.  In  the  vieinitv  of  lihei'in-'.s  I 
Straits,  they  are  l"]s(|uimaux,  but  as  wc  proceed  soutlnvai'i, 
we  find  distinet  and  separate  races. 

'Phe  ('hippewas,  aeeordiiig  to  tho  writer  above-quuti'il, 
are  a  (piiet  peneeabhj  race,  of  a  timorous  dis})ositi(in  jiinl 
wauderin.L'"  habits.  'I'hey  take  great  ])ains  to  prepai'e  tln'ir 
dress  so  ;is  to  resist  the  (.'Xtreme  cold,  and  so  well  ivv  tiny 
protected  in  this  respcxft,  that  when  arrayed  in  the  wan.'i 
furs  and  skins  which  form  the  winter  attire,  one  of  tl-.e 
tribe  "will  hiy  himscdf  down  on  tht^  ice  in  the  miihlle  ofa 
lake,  mid  repose  in  comfoit;  though  he  will  sometimes  find  a 
difneulty  in  the  morning  to  disencumber  himself  of  the  si  mw 
drifted  on  him  during  tin;  night."  The  women  are  not  hail- 
looking,  but  the  hard  service  of  drawing  loaded  sledges,  ;nid 
the  continued  necessity  of  wearing  the  bulky  and  ))on(leroa3 
snow-slux',  give  tln'in  a  shullllng  and  awkward  gait. 


14 


NOriTIIKUN   RACES. 


•i;;r> 


Great  inpMiuitv  iiiid  skill  iirc  (li.-Jiihiycd  hy  tlir  CiiiitiM'- 

j  wa.<,  particularly  by  those  dwelling'  tipoii  tiio  licad-watt  is 
of  tlif  Mississippi,  in  the  (loiistnictioii  of  tlicir  liirch-liark 
caii'M'S.  l*rol)al)ly  in  no  oilier  part  of  tho  world  are  lioals 
to  Ih'  Ciiiiiid  so  li^lit  and  j)ortal)le,  and  yet  capable  <>{'  car- 
rviii^i;  an  ('((ual  burden.     They  arc  eonirnonly  made  of  a 

;  siii;/It'  n»Il  of  the  bark,  neatly  and  stronj^dy  sewed,  and  so 
Hhiipcd,  by  the  a<laj)fation  of  light  thwarts  or  braees,  us  to 
111'  both  graceful  and  swift.     It  requires,  however,  ikj  little 

'  adroitness  to  manage  one  of  these  light  erafts,  as  th(;  wi'ight 
of  the  eano(>  is  so  trilling  as  to  aid  very  little  in  the  pre- 

j   scrvation  of  e(piilibriurn.     Sketches  of  Chij)pew!i  canoes 

I  iuv  given  by  Mr.  Catlin,  and  contrasted  with  tno  awkward 
tulis  of  the  NfatKhms.  / 

'  Mackenzie  says  that  these  people  are  not  like  the  Knis- 
tiiK'NUx  ami  most  other  North  American  Indians,  reserved 
iiinl  distant  in  their  communications  with  strangers  or  with 
each  other  after  along  separation;  and  that  tlu^y  do  not 
exhibit  those  extremes  of  alternate  energy  and  indolence 
so  noticeable  in  other  races. 

In  su(di  a  country  an  they  inhabit  their  food  must,  of 
cour.se,  be  almost  entirely  animal.  They  arc  more  skilled 
in  fishing,  and  in  snaring  deer,  beaver,  &c.,  than  in  the 
more  active  methods  of  securing  game.  Lik(!  tlie  Esqui- 
rnuux,  although  they  prefer  their  meat  cooked,  thev  can 
well  make  a  shift  to  eat  it  without  any  preparation,  when 
unable  to  procure  fuel.  On  their  journies,  they  are  sup- 
ported by  the  nutritious  and  portable  j^reparation  called 
ponunican,  which  we   have  l)eforc   mentioiKid  as  in   use 

j  among  the  Esquimaux.  It  is  made  in  the  followiu"-  man- 
ner: Thin  slices  of  lean  meat  are  dried  over  a  fire,  or  In- 
alternate  exposure  to  sun  and  frost,  and  then  ])ounded 
between  stones.  A  quantity  of  boiling  fat,  e<pial  to  the 
mass  of  meat,  is  then  poured  upon  it,  and  the  whole  is 
closely  packed  in  bags  or  baskets.     No  salt  or  other  con- 


..if! 


■iVi- 


f  - 
I 


I 


)        I 


Si'i' 


5 


Mi 


J/ 


!   C) 


k.-S 


}fi;'^ :  ^ri 


'M 


f : 


4;;g 


INDIAN   liACKS  OF  AMKlilCA. 


diluent  is  used  in  tlie  o])eration,  but,  in  sonic  inst;uu'os 
tlie  peinrnicjiu  is  made  savory  by  the  addition  of  iniurow 
and  dried  berries. 

Some  of  the  men  are  observed  to  be  furnislied  witli  a 
tliiek  bushy  beard;  but,  generally  speaking,  tlie  cnstuiu 
of  eradicating  this  appendage  is  common  to  the  Chip])e- 
was,  as  to  most  other  of  the  Indian  nations.  'I'attooin"  i.s 
common  among  both  sexes,  and  serves  as  a  distinguishing 
mark  of  the  dillcrent  tribes. 


J 


VARIOUS  NATIONS  AND  TRIBES 

RETWKEN  THE  MISSISSIPPI  AND  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    SIOUX.  OR    DAIICOTAS,  AND    OTHKIt    TKIISKS    OF    xIIF,    SAME 

hack:    CLASSIFICATION THK   MANDANS:    THKIK  NUMBER, 

SITUATION,   VILLAGES,   ETC. TIIKIR  CEMETERIES — 

AFFECTIONATE    REMEMBRANCE    OF  THE    DEAD. 

An  a'ccurate  classification  of  tlie  American  Indians, 
eitlier  founded  upon  dissimilarities  in  the  language  of  dif- 
ferent tribes,  or  upon  differences  in  ])hjsieal  peculiarities, 
is  impossible,  particularly  in  treating  of  the  scattered  and 
Nvandering  y)eoi)lc  of  the  far  west.  The  races  vary  by 
siii'li  slight  shades  of  distinction,  and  such  analo,gics  exist 
hot  ween  their  languages,  that  even  where  the  distinction 
is  perfectly  evident  in  the  nation  at  large,  the  line  of  de- 
marcation can  with  difficulty  be  drawn.  In  other  instances, 
the  same  nation,  when  divided  into  separate  clans,  inhabit- 
ing districts  of  dissimilar  nature,  and  resortinuto  different 
modes  of  life,  will  be  found,  in  the  courst  ;  r^  or  two 

generations,  to  present  the  appearance  of  o  j.'^ino'     ices. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  wiser  to  accept  the  po?  '^  -  '^'  v^isions, 
whether  derived  directly  from  the  natives,  or  -.stablished 
by  those  most  fiimiliar  with  them,  than  to  attempt  any 
refined  distinctions.  In  an  essay  upon  natural  history, 
or  in  researches  into  historical  antiquities,  a  particularity 
might  Vic  useful  or  necessary,  which  in  an  outline  of  his- 
tory an<l  'lescription  would  be  but  perplexing  and  ti'dions. 


I;'t  :^^\::p 


4 


4 


i»i; 


W: ' 


%. 


'.fj       t  I 


ijf;il  Ji 


m\ 


,:if 


%\ 


ij'ijll 


438 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


A  vast  wilderness  at  the  west,  upon  the  Missouri  and  the 
upper  western  tributaries  of  the  Mississipj/i,  is  iidiabiifd 
by  tlio  various  tribes  allied  to  the  Sioux  or  Dabeotah.  One 
of  the  earliest  accounts  given  of  these  people,  then  known 
as  the  Naudowessics,  is  to  bo  found  in  the  travels  of  ( 'at- 
tain Jonathan  Carver,  who  spent,  the  winter  of  17t)t)-7 
among  them.  Of  later  observations  and  descriptions,  hy 
fir  the  most  interesting  and  complete  are  contained  in  the 
])ublished  letters  of  Mr.  George  Catlin,  accompanied  as  ihcv 
ai'c  by  spirited  and  artistic  portraits  and  sketches  of  scenery. 

Those  of  this  race  known  as  the  proper  Sioux,  soi  dinnnt 
l^ahcotas,  arc  mostly  established  upon  the  river  of  St.  Pctrr 
and  in  the  country  adjacent.  Some  of  the  eastern  tiilx-s 
are  more  or  less  agricultural,  but  the  others  are  wild  hunt- 
(M's  like  their  brethren  of  the  far  west.  The  Sioux  wimc 
divided,  a  century  since,  into  the  following  eight  tribes:  tlie 
AVawpcentowas,  the  Tintons,  the  Afracootans,  the  AFaw- 
haws  (Omawhas),  and  the  Schians,  all  of  whom  dwelt  in 
the  priarie  country,  upon  the  St.  Peter,  and  three  other 
clans  of  the  then  unexplored  region  to  the  westward.  The 
Assinaboins  anciently  belonged  to  the  same  stock. 

T'y  Mr.  Gallatin  tlie  race  is  divided  as  follows:  "1,  The 
Winnebagos,  of  Wisconsin;  2,  The  Sioux  proper,  or  Dan- 
cotas,  and  the  Assinaboins;  3,  The  Minetari  and  tribes 
allied  to  them;  4,  The  Osagcs,  and  other  kindred  tribe-s," 
farther  south. — [Pritchard's  Natural  History  of  }fan).  The 
Minetari  are  held  to  include  the  Crows  and  the  Mandans. 

I'o  a  description  of  this  last  people,  now,  as  a  se])arati' 
race,  entirely  extinct,  Mr.  Catlin  has  devoted  no  small 
portion  of  his  interesting  descriptions  of  western  adventure. 
They  differed  widely  from  all  other  American  Indian.«  in 
several  particulars.  The  most  noticeable  of  these  were  tlie 
great  diversity  in  complexion  and  in  the  color  and  texture 
of  the  hair.  When  visited  by  this  traveller,  in  1832,  the 
Mandans  were  established  at  two  villages,  only  two  miles 


"Z:^ 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIITI. 


439 


asuiKlcr,  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  ^[issouri,  about  two 
liuiKb'cil  miles  below  the  mouth  of  tlie  YellowstoiM\ 

There  wei'e  tlien  not  far  from  two  thou.saml  of  the  tribe, 
but,  from  their  own  traditions,  and  from  the  extensive 
ruins  of  tlieii-  foiiuer  settlement — some  distanee  below—  it 
was  e\ident  tha.t  their  numbers  had  jz'rcatlv  deereascd. 
The  jirineii)al  \o\\n  was  strongly  fu'tihed  u])on  the  jire- 
cipitnus  river  bank,  on  two  sides  defended  by  the  winding 
stream,  and  on  the  other  by  ])i(pieting  of  heavy  timbci', 
and  bv  a  dit('h.  The  houses  within  were  so  closelvset  as 
to  allow  of  little  spaee  for  locomotion.  Tliey  wert;  par- 
tially suidc  in  the  ground,  and  the  roofs  were  eovered 
witli  earth  and  clay  to  sueh  a  d.-pth  and  of  sueh  eon.sis- 
tcnev  that  tliev  allbrded  the  favorite  lounging  plaees  for 
the  oceupants. 

"One  is  surprised,"  says  Catlin,  "when  he  enters  them, 
to  see  the  neatness,  comfort,  and  sjtaeious  dimensions  of 
these  eartli-eovered  dwellings.  Thev  all  have  a  eireular 
fursn,  and  are  from  f()rty  to  sixty  feet  in  diameter.  Their 
fuiuidatii  ns  are  lu'enared  bv  diu^tring  some  two  feet  in  the 
ground,  and  foi'ining  the  tloor  of  eailli,  by  levelling  the 
requisite  size  for  the  lodge."  Tlic  building  consisted  of  a 
row  of  peri)endicular  stakes  or  timbers,  six  feet  or  there- 
about in  height,  supporting  long  rafters  for  the  rcxjf  A 
hole  was  left  in  the  center  for  air,  light,  and  the  escape  of 
smoke.  The  rafters  were  supported  in  the  middle  by 
beams  and  posts:  over  them  was  laid  a  thick  coatiiig  of 
willow  brusli,  and  over  all  the  covering  of  earth  and  clay. 
;\n  excavation  in  the  centre  of  the  hut  was  used  as  a  llre- 
])lace.  Each  of  these  houses  served  for  a  single  family,  or 
for  a  whole  circle  of  connections,  according  to  its  dimen- 
sions. The  furniture  consisted  of  little  more  than  a  rude 
sort  of  bedsteads,  with  sacking  of  buffalo  skin,  and  some- 
times an  ornamental  curtain  of  the  same  material.  Posts 
were  set  in  the  ground,  between  the  beds,  j)rovided  with 


i 

■ti  'I 


■f 


Cl.I 


lll^'i' 


^K-r*-"'     •:'f'<*f 


\Ci 


K'' 


\i' 


*  <' 


i 


ill 


^^"1 


4-iO 


INDIAN    ILVCKS  OF  AMEI41CA, 


pegs,  from  which  dc'iiciulcJ  the  arms  and  accoutrcmentJs 
of  the  warriors. 

"  This  arrangement  of  beds,  of  arms,  &c.,"  contiinies  our 
author,  "combining  tlie  most  vivid  disphiy  and  arraiiLre- 
nieiit  of  colours,  of  furs,  of  trinkets — of  barbed  and  ghst- 
cning  points  and  steel — of  mysteries  and  hocus  ]iociis, 
together  willi  the  sombre  and  smoked  colour  of  the  roof 
and  sides  of  the  lodge;  and  the  wild,  and  rude,  and  red — 
the  graceful  (though  uncivil)  conversational,  garni  Ion.-:, 
story-telling,  ami  haj)})y,  though  ignorant  and  untntcircd 
grou])s,  that  are  smoking  their  j)ipes — wooing  their  sweet- 
hearts, and  cnd)raeing  their  little  ones  about  theii'  ])eaeefiil 
and  endeared  lire-sides;  together  with  their  pots  aiiil 
kettles,  s})oons,  and  other  culinary  articles  of  their  own 
numufacture,  around  tlu^m;  j)resent,  altogether,  one  of  tlio 
most  i»ictures(pie  scenes  to  the  eye  of  a  stranger  that  can 
be  possibly  seen;  and  far  more  wild  and  vivid  than  could 
ever  be  imagined." 

If  the  sight  within  the  dwellings  Avas  novel  and  strikiiiL'', 
much  more  so  was  that  which  occupied  the  painters  atten- 
tion as  he  surveyed,  from^he  roof  of  one  of  these  domes, 
the  motley  scene  of  busy  life  without.  In  the  centre  (.f 
the  vilhi.ge  an  open  court  was  left  for  purposes  of  recrea- 
tion and  for  the  performances  of  the  national  religious 
ceremonies.  U])on  the  rounded  roofs  of  the  doniicil.s 
luimcrous  busy  or  indolent  groups  w^ere  sitting  or  loung- 
ing in  every  possible  attitude,  while  in  the  central  area 
some  were  exercising  their  wild  horses,  or  traininc  ami 
playing  with  their  dogs.  Such  a  variety  of  brilliant  and 
laiiciful  costume,  oriuimented  with  plumes  and  porcujuue 
(pulls,  with  the  ])icturesquG  throng  of  Indians  and  animals, 
the  closely  crowded  village,  the  green  plain,  the  river,  aiul 
the  blue  hills  in  the  distance,  formed  a  happy  subject  for 
the  artist. 

Without  the  picket  of  defence,  the  only  objects  visible, 


outrciiicnU 


is^ 


^'           ,s<^V 

1^ 

?^''''(';;l 

/, 

^^ 

4 

\ 

^Sii;,/ 

«• 

<& 

■  ^.r.,(^^ 

4\ 

^ 

^»'' 

vy 

1 

II 

i 

^ 

S 

oil 

_  ? 

i 


14 


rr     V 


I 


Ik*' 


iJ     ,:    i 


i 


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1.1. 

w 
to 

til 

fn 
111 
111 

oi: 

;i, 

va 

1 

,    th 
;   an 

I    tli( 

i ''}: 

!   s!i, 

I   bu 

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lie 
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tll( 

wi 
Ivi 


Ti;ii;:;.s  wk.st  of  tkh  mlsslssh'I'I. 


-ill 


of  mail's  ooiistinu'tinii,  wcro  the  scanoldiii,!,'-;  upon  \vlii('li 
the  (lead  were  exj)()se  1.  The  niainicr  in  which  the  fuiierul 
rites  of  the  ^^;ul(huls  wei'e  eondueted,  with  tlio  suhsc'iui'iit 
details,  constitutes  the  most  touehiiii^  poriion  of  the  au- 
thor's naiTutive.  The  Ix^dy  of  the  dead  ])ersoii  was  ti'jhtly 
wrajiped  and  hound  uji  in  fi'esli  or  soak(><l  IjulViilo  skins, 
together  with  the  anus  and  acei.mti'enu'nts  used  in  Hfe,  and 
the  usual  j)rovision  of  tohaeeo,  (lint  and  steel,  knife,  and 
food.  A  sli,L;'ht  seaiVold  is  then  jii'cpared,  of  snflieient 
lieight  to  serve  as  jii-otcction  fi't»ni  the  wolve-^  and  do'js, 
and  then;  the  body  is  dr]iosit('(l  to  decay  in  \\\o.  opiMi  air. 

])av  after  day  those  who  had  lost  friends  wouM  eonie 
nut  from  the  villa.ut*  to  this  strange  cemetery,  to  weep  and 
bewail  over  their  loss.  Such  genuine  and  long-continued 
La'lef  as  was  exhihited  hv  th(>  aniiet(^d  relatives  ]iuts  to 
.«!ifuiii'  the  cold-heartedness  of  too  many  among  the  eulti- 
v;ited  and  enlightened.  When,  alter  the  lapse  of  years, 
the  scailolds  had  fallen,  ;ind  nothing  was  left  but  blcaeheil 
and  mouldering  bones,  the  I'cniains  were;  buried,  with  the 
exception  of  the  sk'ulls.  These  were  jilaeed  in  circles  upcju 
the  plain,  with  the  faces  turncil  inward,  each  ri-sting 
upon  a  bunch  of  wild  sag(>;  and  in  the  centre,  up' mi  two 
slight  mounds,  "medicine-})olcs"  were  erected,  at  the  foot 
of  which  were  the  heads  and  horns  of  a  male  and  a  J'einal(> 
buffalo.  To  these  new  places  of  deposit,  each  ol'  which 
contained  ncjt  far  from  one  hundred  skulls,  "do  thcs>' 
jH'ople,"  says  Catlin,  "again  resort,  to  evince  their  further 
all'ection  for  the  dead — nc^t  in  groans  and  lamentations, 
however,  for  several  years  have  cured  the  anguish;  but 
fond  alTections  and  endearments  are  here  renewed,  and 
conversations  are  here  held,  and  cherished,  with  thdlead." 

The  wife  or  mother  would  sit  for  hours  by  the  side  of 
the  white  relic  of  the  loved  and  lost,  addressing  tin'  skull 
with  the  most  affectionate  and  loving  tones,  or,  perchance 
lying  down  and  falling  asleep  with  her  arms  around  it. 


1 

t 

i 

^r 

1 

'■' 

,l 

;    I 

, 

'  - 

1 

(' 

/ 

.1 

1 

.t 


) 


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^t.       ^!j 


ilk 


1 


r  V 


i'' 


,  J  pip'*l 


iii: 


f  if  t' 


'n 


U-2 


IMHAN    RACKS  OK  A  M  i;i;i(  A. 


Fo(j(l  would  Ijc  nightly  S(.'t  hcforc  many  of  tlioso  skul^ 
and,  with  tlio  most  tender  cure,  the  aromatic  hvd  upon 
wliieli  tiny  re])osed  would  be  renewed  as  it  wiiucred  jinii 
decayed. 


CHAPTER  II. 

I'KKSONAI,  ArPKATiANCR  AND  PKCHMA  lilTIF.S  OF  THE  MANDAXS — 

Tiir.iii   n'isi'iTAi.rrv   and   uunAMTV — tiikir   ckkanmnkss 

OF  I'KIISON — TIIRIK  DliF.SS — I'DltTIi AITS  OF  MANDAN  rillKK.S 

roNTKAST  I'.KTWKKN  THK  WH.I)  TIUHES  A  NO  TIIOSK  OF 

TIIK   KllD.N'TlKK — MANDAN   DoMKSTlC   I'SAfiKS (JAMKS 

AND  DANCES TU  A  INING  OF  TIIK  YOUTH THE  GREAT 

ANNUAL   RELIGIOUS  CEREMONY THE   MANDANS 

SUPPOSED   TO    BE    OF   WELSH  DESCENT 

ANNIHILATION    OF    THE    TRIBE 
BY  THE    SMALL-POX. 

Unlike  the  other  Indian  tribes  of  the  west,  the  ^faa- 
dans,  instead  of  presenting  a  perfect  uniformity  in  coin- 
])le-\ion,  and  in  the  color  of  the  eyes  and  hair,  exhibited  aa 
great  diversity  in  these  respects  as  will  be  noti(;ed  in  ii 
mixed  population  of  Europeans.  Their  hair  was,  for  the 
iiKjst  part,  very  fine  and  soft,  but  in  a  number  of  instance's 
a  strange  anomaly  was  observable,  both  in  old  and  young. 
and  in  either  sex,  viz. :  a  profusion  of  coarse  locks  (>f  '"a 
bright  silveiy  gray,"  approaching  sometimes  to  wdiite. 

Some  of  the  women  were  quite  fiiir,  witli  blue  eyes,  and 
the  most  symmetrical  features,  combined  with  a  \cvy  at- 
tractive and  agreeable  ex])ression.  It  does  not  a})pe;ir 
probable  that  sullicient  intermixture  with  European  races 
had  ever  taken  place  to  account  for  these  peculiarities,  and 
bome  authors  appear  quite  convinced  that  these  Mandans 
are  the  remains  of  a  great  jieople,  entirely  distinct  from  the 


TlUnivS  WEST  OF  TllK  MISSISSII'IM. 


413 


ii.itloiis  around  tlicm.  Of  ^^r.  Catlin's  n\S(\'ircli('s  and  oon- 
{illusions  n'siicctiii,!,^  tlieir  origin,  we  shall  take  occasion  to 
gjieak  licreafttT. 

Ill  tli(.'ir  disposition,  the  Mandans  wore  hosj)ital)li'  and 
IVJi'tidly;  afTt'ctionato  and  kind  in  their  treatment  of  rach 
(^tliei';  an<I  mindful  of  the  eonvenifuce  and  eomfi)i't  of  the 
sfraiiLier.  'J'heir  figures  were  beautifully  ])roporfi()iicd,  ;iiid 
tlicir  movements  and  attitudes  graeeful  and  easy.  Instead 
of  thi'  elosely-sliorn  loeks  of  some  other  races,  tli<'y  wore 
flii'ir  hair  long,  'i'l.e  men  were  particularly  proud  of  this 
iij'pi'iidago,  and  were  at  no  snudl  ]»ains  to  arningc  it  in 
what  they  esteemed  a  becoming  Tiianner.  It  was  thrown 
hai'kward  from  the  forehead,  and  divided  into  a  nunilier 
nf  plaits.  These  were  kept  in  their  jiosition  by  glue  and 
sniiii'  red-tinted  carln,  with  which  tliey  were  matted  at 
iiitrrvals.  The  women  oiled  and  braided  their  hair,  ]»art- 
iw'j:  it  in  the  middle;  the  place  of  parting  was  universally 
painted  red. 

A  greater  degree  of  cleanliness  was  observable  in  tluMr 
porsons  than  is  common  among  savages.  A  pai'ti(;nlar 
localion  was  assigned,  at  some  distance  from  the  village, 
nil  the  river,  where  the  women  could  resort  undisturbed 
for  tlieir  morning  ablutions.  A  guard  was  stationeil,  ut 
intervals,  upon  a  surrounding  circle  of  rising  ground,  to 
prevent  intrusion.  Those  of  both  sexes  and  all  ag(\s  were 
excellent  swimmers;  scarcely  was  one  to  be  found  who 
could  not  with  ease  cross  the  M^issouri  in  this  maniiei'. 
Tlieir  only  boats  were  round  tubs  made  by  stretching  buf- 
falo-skins over  a  light  frame-work.  '^Fhe  form  and  capacily 
'>f  these  clumsy  water-craft,  were  strikingly  similar  to  that 
')f  the  coracles  used  in  Wales  and  upon  other  portions  of 
the  coast  of  Great  Britain. 

As  an  additional  means  of  luxury,  and  as  an  efficient 
remedy  in  case  of  sickness,  a  hut  was  devoted  to  the  ])iir- 
poso  of  a  steam-bath.     This  was  cfl'eeted  by  pouring  water 


w 


M 


If, 


;•■"'    t 


t  ^  i; 


<1   :1f 


IfHipi 

ip 

fl 

m- 

"'  ^    ,; 

\f 

^ff    . 

N 

';''' : 

ji 

1 

■1 

r 

444 


INDIAN    KACLri  OF  AMKIUCA. 


ui)on  lic'itcil  stoups,  over  wliicli  tlio  p:itiont  was  j.l;>cfM] 
wrapped  in  ImHiilo-robcs,  in  a  wicker-biiskt't.  'riic  opcr.i* 
tion  was  always  followed  up  by  a  i^nn^'o  into  tho  river, 
und  a  snl)se<pient  rubbing  and  oiling  of  the  Ixxly.  Siicji 
a  mode  of  trcattnent  produced  terribl(>  od'ects,  in  after  tiiiu  s. 
when  llie  srnall-})ox  spread  through  tho  tril)e. 

^J'he  diT'ss  oC  the  ^[andau  warriors,  although  in  its  {.'cii- 
cral  fashion  similar  to  that  of  tho  neighboring  tribes,  \v;is 
singularl}'  I'ieh  and  elaborate.  It  was  formed  entirely  el 
skins:  a  coat  or  hunting-shirt  of  buck-skin;  leggins  aiid 
moccasins  of  the  same  material,  beautifully  fringed,  ainl 
embroidered  with  porcupine  rpiills;  and  an  outer  inuii!!i' 
ol'  the  fur  of  a  young  buHalo,  formed  the  jjrincipal  cquiii- 
nient.  The  covering  for  the  head  was  more  elaborate,  mimI 
was  constructed,  by  all  who  could  obtain  the  materials,  of 
ermine  skins,  and  feathers  of  the  war-eagle.  So  hii/h  ;i 
value  was  .set  upon  these  head-dresses,  that  ^fr.  Catlin,  alter 
having  bargained  for  the  entire  suit  of  a  chief,  Mdioso  jmr- 
trait  lie  had  just  jiaintcd,  was  obliged  to  give  two  horses, 
of  the  value  of  twenty-five  dollars  each,  for  the  crowning' 
ornament.  Some  few  chiefs  luid  attained  a  height  of  an- 
thority  and  renown  which  entitled  them  to  add  to  their 
head-dress  a  pair  of  bufialo-horns,  reduced  in  size  aii(l 
weight,  and  arranged  as  they  grew  upon  the  animal.  The 
custom  was  not  confined  to  the  Mandans,  but  a  simihir 
ornament  is  widely  considered  as  symbolic  of  power  and 
warlike  achievements  among  the  western  Indians. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  pride  and  delight  of  the  chiefs 
of  the  tribe,  after  their  first  apprehensions  at  the  novelty 
of  the  proceeding  were  allayed,  at  the  sight  of  their  own 
portraits,  for  which  they  were  induced  to  sit  by  our  author. 
lie  was  constituted  and  proclaimed  from  the  moment  of 
the  first  exhibition,  a  "great  medicine-man,"  and  old  and 
young  thronged  to  see  and  to  toucli  the  worker  of  such  a 
miracle.     All  declared  that  the  pictures  were,  at  least  par- 


11 


m 


'yf, 

i^ 

>  1 

i 

I 


i 


f 


MANDAN  CHIEF. 


4 


n. 


> 

I: 

lilii 

'IB  It' 

1  mi 

Ill 


II 


ti:il 

Mill 


(J  IT. 

I 

IllUl 

a;M 

III'" 

tiuli 

h'l 

of' 

1 
f  il'l 

a<k'( 
The 

oft 
wlii 
Coir 


Uigl 

dial 
no  I 
pi'cc 
Ih'al 
him 
priz 
1' 
aiao 
mca 
and 
wen 


TUIllKS  WEST  OF  Till*:  MlSSlti.Siri'I. 


Uo 


tiiilly,  ulive:  (or  from  wliiitsoover  side  they  wero  bclu'ltl, 
still  tlio  eyes  wcru  Hocii  lixed  upon  iho  bchnMcf,  An  idea 
WiiA  stiii'tcil,  iuid  obtained  a  I'Mnjiorary  cri-'di-ncf,  that  some 
|ii)rliun  of  the  lilb  of  the;  person  rcpri'sented  must  have 
liii'ii  alf.-'lraitted  by  the  painter,  and  that  (;<>nst>([ueiitly  hi.s 
ttini  tif  existenee  must  bt;  shortened.  It  was  moreover 
feared  Irsf,  by  tlie  j»ietuR''H  bving  after  the  death  of  the 
oriu'iiial,  \\n\  (piiet  rest  of  the  ;^n'ave  sliould  be  troulih'd. 

Hv  a  most  injfenious  and  jmbeious  poliey  in  adoptin;^'  a 
i;it)il(.'  of  exphmation,  suited  to  tlio  eaj)aeity  of  his  hfiii'rrs, 
aiiil  by  wisely  in;^n-atiatini^  himself  with  th(!  ehiels  and 
iiinheine-men,  Mr.  (Jatlin  sueeccded  in  stilHng  the  eommo- 
tiuii  exeiled  by  sneh  suggestions  and  suspieions.  He  was 
lii'M  in  liigh  estimation,  and  feasted  by  the  principal  men 
(if  the  trib(!,  whose  [jortraits  he  obtained  for  his  invabiablo 
L'niI(!(,'tion. 

It  is  oidy  among  sueh  remote  tribes  as  tlio  one  whieh 
firms  the  snbjeet  of  our  present  consideration,  th;it  any 
ailcfjuate  idea  can  bo  formed  of  tlic  true  Indian  (character. 
The  gluttony,  druidvcnness,  surliness,  and  "shiftks.-;ness" 
of  tliij  degraded  race,  that  has  caught  the  vices  of  the 
\vliite  men,  without  aiming  at  hiscivili/catio.i,  are  str(jng]y 
Contrasted  with  the  abstemiousness,  self-respect,  and  mitivo 
dignity  of  the  uncontaininated.  "Amongst  the  wild  In- 
diuiis  in  this  country,"  says  Catlin,  "there  ;iro  no  beggars — 
110  drunkards — and  every  man,  from  a  beautiful  natural 
precept,  studies  to  keep  his  Ixjdy  and  mind  in  such  a 
ln.'althy  shape  and  condition  as  will  at  all  times  enable 
liim  to  use  his  weapons  in  self-defence,  or  struggle  for  the 
prize  in  their  manly  games." 

The  usual  custom  of  i)olygatny  was  universally  j)ractieed 
among  the  ^fandans,  by  all  "whose  rank,  position  nnd 
means  enabled  them  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements, 
and  pay  the  stipulated  price  for  their  wives.  The  girls 
were  generally  sold  by  their  parents  at  a  very  early  age^ 


■il 


)■  '  ' 


*i'»« 


'«'    ;     * 


;>i  ■;,» 


mv'^  |:|| 


.^*llil:-^ 


MO 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMF^UICA. 


and,  as  ai'i()ii<_^  most  L;u'l);ii'ons  nations,  tliuir  fate  \v;ls  a  lifc 

of  t(jil  and  (li'udgcry.     'I'licir  time  must  be  almost  en  '■ 

ataiitly  employed   in   getting    fuel,   eultivating  eoiu  and  ; 
?nuasli('S,  j»i\'|i;iriiig  pemmiean  and  oIIkm'  di'ied  stoirs  fur 

winti'i',  and  in  dressing  and  embroidering  the  buUalo-ioli,.,  : 

which  liicir  l(jrd  and  master  aeeumulated  for  traiK.'  with  tlio  ' 

I 

Avhitcs.  .  I 

Notwithstanding  this  apparently  degraded  j'ositioii.  wo  ■ 

.'ire  informed  that  the  wonu-n  were  seemingly  <'(nit(iitiil  i 
with  their  lot,  that  they  were  modest  in  their  dcportiiic.it, 
jdid  that  "amongst  tlie  respcetable  families,  virtue"  was 

"as   highl\-  cherished,  and  as  inapproachable  as  ir.  any  . 

society  wdiatever."  I 

White   traders  among  the  extreme  westei'n  tribes  are  ' 
said  to  bt;  almost  universally  in  th^  custom,  fi-om  motives 
of  poliev,  and  pei'haps  from  inclination,  of  allying  them- 
selves to  one,  at  least,  of  the  principal  ciiiefs,  by  a  teinpu- 

rar}'  espousal  of  his  daughter.     In  many  instanc(\s  they  ^ 

indulge  in  a  plurality.     'J'his  is  a  position  greatly  soii'.;!it  ' 

after  by  the  young  w^omen,  as  the}^  are  enabled  by  it  to  ! 

indulge  their  native  fondness  for  display,  and  are  herd  ! 

from  the  toil  usmdlv  incident  to  their  existence.  ! 

The  men  and  boys,  leading  a  life  of  ease,  cxcej)t  when  ■ 

engaged  upon  a  hunt,  practiced  a  great  variety  of  gaiii'S  | 

and  athletic  s})orts,  some  of  them  very  curious  and  on-  : 

ginal.    I  lorse-raeing,  ball-playing,  archery,  &c.,  never  failed  ' 

to  excite  and  delight  them.     An  endless  variety  of  danei's,  i 

with  vocal  and  instrumental  accompaniments,  served  f'r  j 

recreation   and  religious  ceremonials.      Every  word  and  ; 
step  had  some  particular  and  occult  signification,  for  the 

most  part  knowai  only  to  those  initiated  in  the  mysteries  j 

of  "medicine."  i 

In  times  of  scarcity,  Avlien  the  buffalo  herds  had  wan-  , 

dered  away  from  the  vicinity,  so  far  that  the  hunters  dared  ; 
not  pursue  them,  for  fear  of  enemies,  the  "buflalo  danee'' 


711 


ic  invsterii'S 


•ii;i;!KS  WEST  OF  tue  mississhti. 


4-i7 


i\:i>  pcrforincd  in  the  central  court  of  tlie  village.  Every 
mail  of  the  tilbe  possessed  a  mask  made  from  the  skiij 
ufa  hullalo'shead,  iueludiiigthc  horns,  and  drii  d  as  nearly 
a.s  possible  in  the  natural  shajn',  to  he  worn  on  these  occa- 
sions. When  the  wi.sc  men  of  the  nation  determined  upon 
tlu'ir  invocations  to  attract  the  bud'alo  herds,  -watclieis  \vcii\ 
stationed  upon  the  eminences  surrounding  the  village,  and 
tlie  dance  commenced.  Witli  extravagant  action,  and 
strange  ejaculations,  the  crowd  jierformed  the  jux-sci-ihcd 
iiiaiireuvres:  as  fast  as  those  enii'aged  became  weary,  thcv 
would  sii^-nilV  it  bv  croiichhig  d(jwn,  when  those  without 
till'  circle  wouM  go  through  the  })antomime  of  severally 
shouting,  llaN'in,::,  and  divssing  them,  while  new  perdirm- 
crs  took  their  place.  Niuht  and  dav  the  mad  scene  was 
kept  up,  sometimes  for  weeks  together!  until  the  signal 
was  given  of  the  a}H)roach  of  bulValo,  when  all  prepai'ed 
with  jov  and  hilarity  fu"  a  "Tand  hunt,  fully  convinced 
that  their  own  exertions  had  secured  the  prize. 

Xo  less  singular  was  the  ceremonial  resorted  to  when 
the  cro})S  were  sullering  for  want  of  rain.  A  knot  of  the 
v»-is('st  medicine-men  would  collect  in  a  hut,  where  tln'V 
held  their  session  with  closed  (hjoivs,  burninLr  aromatic  heibs 
and  LToing  throuuh  with  an  uidcnown  series  of  incanta- 
tions.  Some  tyro  was  then  sent  up  to  take  his  stand  on 
the  roof,  in  sight  of  the  jteople,  and  spend  the  day  in  invo- 
cations for  a  shower.  If  the  sky  continued  clear,  he  re- 
tireil  in  disgrace,  as  one  who  need  not  h()|)e  ever  to  arri\e 
at  the  dignity  of  a  medicine-man.  Ihiy  after  day  the  per- 
formance continued,  until  a  cloud  overspi'cad  the  skies, 
when  the  3'oung  Indian  on  the  lodge  discharged  an  ai'ro\y 
towards  it,  to  let  out  the  rain.  From  their  earliest  youth, 
the  boys  were  trained  to  the  mimic  exercises  of  war  and 
the  chase.  It  was  a  beautiful  siu'ht  to  witness  the  snirit 
widi  which  they  would  enact  a  sham  light  upon  the  oj)en 
prairie.     A  tuft  of  grass  supplied  the  })lace  of  the  scalp- 


f: 


,s 


i 

■>  I     Is*,  'i 


4\  'li- 


<i    ) 


t 

^M- 

l^  1^ 

'il,.. 

Ut' 


'■    0 


'>   I 


<!l|[ 


0' 


US 


INDIAN  KzVCES  OF  AMKlllCA. 


("1 


lock,  and  blunt  arrows  (^f  gni.s.s  or  I'ocds,  with  wood 
P("il])ing-kiiivcs,  formed  tlieir  innocuous  wcajions.  "Jfaiiv 
one,"  says  Catliii,  "is  struck  with  an  ari'ow  on  any  vital 
part  or  ins  Ix^dy,  he  is  (jliliged  to  fall,  and  his  ad\ers:irv 
I'ushes  Uj)  to  him,  pl-tccs  his  fo(jt  ii})on  him,  anil  snatcjiiiig 
from  his  l)elt  his  wooden  knife,  grasps  hold  ol'  his  vietiin's 
scalpdock  (jf  grass,  and  making  a  leint  at  it  with  his  womkn 
knife,  snatches  it  oif  and  ])Uts  it  int(j  his  belt,  and  eiUi'is 
tigain  int(j  the  ranks  and  front  of  battle." 

This  was  the  true  mode  of  forming  warrii^'s.  The  youth 
grew  to  manhood  with  the  one  idea  that  true  dignity  ainl 
glory  awaited  him  alone  wdio  could  fiinge  his  garnuiit- 
"with  the  scal])S  of  his  enemies.  .S(jme  of  the  Maada.i 
braves,  even  of  their  last  genei'ation,  ]ierf)rnied  livits  oi 
daring,  and  engaged  in  chivalrinis  cond^ats,  which  ■  ill 
almost  com])are  with  the  deeds  of  I'iskaret  or  lliadconi  in 
tlie  early  histoiy  of  the  Iroipiois. 

At  the  risk  of  seeming  to  linger  too  long  over  the  lii.-ti  ^ly 


and  customs  of  a  single  tribe,  lew  in  nund)ci 


an 


d 


now 


c.\tinct,  we  will  give  some  description  of  the  sliangi'  icli- 
gious  ceremony  which  occupied  four  days  of  each  iclmuiiig 
year.  The  religious  belief  of  the  ^Landaus  was,  in  tli'' 
main,  not  unlike  that  of  most  Xorth  American  aborigines, 
but  some  of  their  self-torturing  modes  of  adoi'atiou  and 
propitiation  of  their  deity  were  perfectly  uni(puj.  Tlie 
grand  four  daj's'  ceremony  had,  according  to  Catlin,  thno 
distinct  objects;  a  festival  of  thanksgiving  for  the  esrapf 
of  their  ancestors  from  the  flood!  of  which  they  lia'l  a 
distinct  tradition,  strikingly  conformable  to  scriptmai 
history;  for  the"  grand  "bull-dance,"  to  draw  the  bull'alu 
herds  towards  the  settlement;  and  to  iintiate  the  yomi'j 
men,  by  terrible  trials  and  tortures,  into  the  order  of  war- 
riors, and  to  allow  those  wdiose  fortitude  had  been  full.v 
tested  to  give  renewed  proofs  of  their  capacity  of  cndur- 
uuce,  and  their  claim  to  the  position  of  chiefs  and  leaders 


; 


til    \VOi)(U"i 

s.  "Jfai,y 
1  uiiy  vital 
;  ;itl\ei>:ii'v 

I  Sliati'llili;,' 

liis  vivtiia's 

Ills  \V(HiiliU 


Tlieyuutli 
ligiiiiy  ;iial 
ri  gariiiciit.s 
le  Ma'alaa 
cd  li'ats  oi 
wliich  •■  ill 
liatlcuiii  in 


lliij  lii.-t'iry 
;,  aiiil  laiw 
traii.Liv  ivli- 
i-(.'turiiiii'j' 
as,   ill  111'' 
Ln>i'i;_uii'S,     I 
alidU  aii'l 
lit,'.      Till' 
itliii,  thn'i; 
llie  csrapi,'     I 
ie\'  lui'l  a     ' 
seri|>tiii-al 
10  Imll'al'j 
he  yuiiii:-' 
cr  (>r  war-    i 
been  fully     \ 
of  LMiilur- 
id  Icadoi's     1 


i 


i-\' 


|! 


ill 


*■:    '       lit 


J: 


'f^'* 


w    ,» 


m 


f: 

*    * 
1 

!        "u 

I 


'f 

i# 

■■   f 

'1 

ii^fc 

^-* 

^_ 

i'l 

!l 


til 


I.V/il.lX     ir.lfiDI.YcF.. 


TIUBES  WKST  dl"  THE  MlSSISSiri'I. 


449 


Tlio  jMn'ind  for  the  ceremony  was  tliat  in  wliieli  the 
IiT-vcs  of"  the  ■willow  on  the  river  hank  wrrt^  lirst  fully 
ojione*!;  "for,  aeeordint^  to  th(.'ir  ti'adition,"  says  (/atliii, 
'"thetwi/^  that  the  bird  hronrjiil  Iioiw  was  a  willow  hoii'^li, 
find  had  fnll  grown  leaves  upon  it,'  and  the  Itird  to 
^vliieh  they  alhule  is  the  mourning  or  turtle-d<n'e,  which 
tliey  took  great  pains  to  point  out  to  me,"  as  a  /;<"//- 
r'aic-hird.  'Wc,  first  performances  bore  reference  to  the 
deluge,  in  commemoration  of  wliieh  a  sort  of  "cml)  or 
hogshead "  stood  in  tlie  centre  of  the  village  eouit,  syni- 
holical  of  the  "big  canoe,"  in  which  the  human  race  was 
preserved. 

No  intimation  was  given  by  the  wise  men,  und('r  whoso 
secret  management  the  whole  aflair  was  concbictcd,  of  tlie 
precise  day  when  the  grand  celebration  should  cominciice; 
hut  at  sunrise,  one  morning,  !N[r.  Catlin  and  his  whit*'  com- 
panions were  aroused  by  u  terrible  tumult  throughout  the 
villnDfc.  All  seemed  to  be  in  a  state  of  the  LMvatcst  ex- 
citement  and  alarm,  the  cause  of  which  was  une.\]'!aii:able, 
as  the  object  at  which  all  were  gazing  was  a  single  figrn'o 
approaching  the  village,  from  a  bluff,  about  a  mile  distant. 
This  personage  soon  entered  within  the  inc]ose<l  space  of 
the  town:  he  was  painted  with  white  clay,  and  carried  a 
large  pipe  in  his  hand.  He  was  saluted  by  the  princi])al 
men  of  tlio  tribe  as  "Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah  (the  first  or 
only  man," — in  fact,  none  other  than  Xoah  liimself) — who 
had  come  to  open  the  great  lodge  reserved  exclusively  for 
the  annual  religious  rites. 

Having  superintended  the  pre];»aration  of  the  medicine- 
house,  and  leaving  men  busy  in  adorning  it  with  willow 
boughs  and  sage,  and  in  the  arrangement  of  divers  skulls, 
both  of  rnen  and  buffaloes,  which  were  essential  in  the 
coming  mysteries,  Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah  made  tin;  rornids 
of  the  village,  repeating  before  every  jodge  the  tale  of  the 
great  deluge,  and  telling  liow  he  alone  had  been  saved  in 
29  ' 


iH 


fi,    , 

If ,  ^ 

* 

c       '' 

'1 

fr 

■    ',  ( 

f 

^'      *    •   ' 

■i 

n 

i. 

f  1 

1     i 

•  i' 

•1 

ffr: 


I  ■■  \ 


450 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMP:UICA. 


l: 


iiis  ark,  and  left  by  the  retiring  waters  upon  llie  .sununit 
of  a  western  mountain ! 

At  every  hut  he  was  presented  v:ith  some  cutting  instru- 
ment, (such  as  was  supposed  to  have  been  used  in  llnj 
construction  of  the  ark,)  to  be  thrown  into  the  river  us  a 
sacrifice  to  the  waters. 

Next  day,  having  ushered  the  young  men  who  were  to 
go  through  the  fearful  ordeal  of  self-inflicted  torture  into 
the  sacred  lodge,  and  appointed  an  old  medicine-man  to  the 
ofiice  of  "0-kce-pah  Ka-se-kah,  (keeper  or  conductor  df 
the  ceremonies,")  he  Look  up  his  march  into  the  ]iniii'ie, 
promising  to  appear  again  on  the  return  of  the  season  iu 
the  ensuing  year. 

The  young  warriors,  preparatory  to  undergoing  the  tor- 
ture, verc  o])liged,  until  the  fourth  day  from  their  entry 
into  the  lodge,  to  abstain  from  food,  drink,  or  sleep  I— 
Meanwhile,  various  strange  scenes  were  enacted  in  the  cen- 
tral area  before  the  house.  The  grand  buffalo-dance,  a 
performance  combining  every  thing  conceivable  of  the  gnj- 
tesquc  and  extravagant,  was  solemnly  performed  to  insure 
a  favorable  season  for  the  chase. 

On  the  fourth  '..xy  commenced  the  more  horrible  portion 
of  the  exercises.  Mr.  Catlin,  as  a  great  medicine-man,  was 
admitted  within  the  lodge  throughout  the  performances, 
and  had  full  opportunity  to  portray,  with  pen  and  pencil, 
the  scenes  therein  enacted.  Coming  forward,  in  turn,  tlie 
victims  allowed  the  flesh  of  their  breasts  or  backs  to  bo 
pierced  with  a  rough  two-edged  knife,  and  splinters  of 
wood  to  be  thrust  through  the  holes.  Enoutrh  of  the 
skin  and  flesh  were  taken  up  to  be  more  than  sufficient 
for  the  support  of  the  weight  of  the  body.  To  th'^se 
splints  cords  let  down  from  the  roof  -were  attached,  and 
the  subject  of  these  inflictions  was  hoisted  from  the 
ground.  Similar  splints  were  then  thrust  through  the 
arms  and  legs,  to  which  the  warrior's  arms,  and,  in  some 


TRIBKS  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


451 


cases,  as  additional  weights,  several  heavy  buflalo  heads, 
Ntere  hung. 

Thus  far  the  fortitude  of  the  Indian  sufficed  to  restrain 
all  exhibition  of  pain;  while  the  flesh  was  torn  with  the 
rude  knife,  and  the  wooden  skewers  were  thrust  in,  a 
pleasant  smile  was  frequently  observable  on  the  young 
warrior's  countenance;  but  when  in  the  horrible  position 
above  described,  with  his  flesh  stretched  by  the  splints  till 
it  appeared  about  to  give  way,  a  number  of  attendants 
Commenced  turning  him  round  and  round  with  poles,  ho 
would  "  burst  out  in  the  most  lamentable  and  heart-rend- 
ing cries  that  the  human  voice  is  capable  of  producing, 
crying  forth  to  the  Great  Spirit  to  support  and  protect 
him  in  this  dreadful  trial." 

After  hanging  until  total  insensibility  brought  a  tempo- 
rary relief  to  liis  sufferings,  lie  was  lowered  to  the  floor, 
the  main  supporting  skewers  were  withdrawn,  and  he  was 
left  to  crawl  off,  dragging  tlic  weights  after  liim.  The 
first  movement,  with  returning  consciousness,  was  to  sacri- 
fice to  the  Great  Spirit  one  or  more  of  the  fingers  of  the 
left  hand,  after  which  the  miserable  wretch  was  taken  out 
of  the  lodge.  Within  the  court  a  new  trial  awaited  him; 
the  last,  but  most  terrible  of  all.  An  active  man  took  his 
position  on  each  side  of  the  weak  and  mutilated  sufferer, 
and,  passing  a  thong  about  his  wrist,  urged  him  forward  at 
the  top  of  his  speed  in  a  circle  round  the  arena.  When, 
faint  and  weary,  he  sank  on  the  ground,  the  tormentore 
dragged  him  furiously  around  the  ring  until  the  splints  were 
torn  out  by  tl  j  weights  attached,  and  he  lay  motionless  and 
apparently  lifeless.  If  thesj)lint  should  have  been  so  deeply 
inserted  that  no  force — even  that  of  the  weight  of  individ- 
uals in  the  crowd,  thrown  upon  the  trailing  skulls — could 
break  the  integuments,  nothing  remained  but  to  crawl  off  to 
the  prairie  and  wait  until  it  should  give  way  by  suppuration. 
To  draw  the  skewer  out  would  be  unpardonable  sacrilege. 


\ 


1  '\  :r 


■n  • 


'■X 


|4!^ 

ff 

, 

lay  ll 

S'" 

'Inn 

k 

'*'iffi 

|||l&i 

!« 

il 

m 

c  '4 it 


'  •  fi 


pi 


452 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


It  is  told  of  one  man  that  lie  suspended  liimself  from 
tlie  precipitous  river  bank  by  two  of  these  skewers,  thrr.>t 
througli  his  arms,  until,  at  the  end  of  several  days!  lie 
drojipcd  into  the  water,  and  swam  ashore.  Throu^^lKjut 
the  whole  ordeal,  the  chiefs  and  sages  of  the  tribe  critically 
observed  the  comj)arative  fortitude  and  endurance  of  tin; 
candidates,  and  formed  their  conclusions  thereupon  as  to 
which  would  be  the  worthiest  to  command  in  after  time. 

With  all  these  frightful  and  hideous  sights  before  his 
eyes,  or  fresh  in  his  recollection,  our  author  still  maintaiii.s, 
and  ap])arently  upon  good  grounds,  and  in  honest  sin- 
cerity, his  former  eulogium  upon  the  virtues  and  nat- 
ural, noble  endowments  of  these  singular  people.  AVo 
have  given,  above,  bu.t  a  brief  outline  of  the  mysterious 
conjurations  attendant  upon  the  great  annual  festival: 
many  of  these  lack  interest  from  our  ignorance  of  their 
signification. 

A  favorite  theme  for  theorists,  ever  since  the  early  ages 
of  American  colonization,  has  been  found  in  the  endeav- 
or to  trace  a  descent  from  the  followers  of  the  Welsh 
voyager.  Prince  Madoc,  to  sundry  Indian  tribes  of  the 
west.  Vague  accounts  of  Indians  of  light  complexion, 
who  could  speak  and  understand  the  Welsh  language,  are 
given  by  various  early  writers.  They  were  generally  lo- 
cated by  the  narrator  in  some  indeterminate  region  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  at  a  considerable  distance  above  New 
Orleans,  but  no  whc^e  near  the  Missouri. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  these  ancient  accounts  are  so 
loose  and  uncertain,  as  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  they 
are  founded  upon  striking  and  important  facts.  A  list  of 
Mandan  words,  compared  with  Welsh  of  the  same  signi- 
fication, has  been  ,  '.''3  public  by  Mr.  Catlin,  in  which  the 
resemblance  is  so  v  jar,  that  almost  any  theory  wou^d  be 
more  credible  than  that  such  affinity  was  accidental.  Tlii.s 
author  traced  remains  of  the  peculiar  villages  of  the  Man- 


TUIHKri  WEST  OF  THE  MISSLSSIPI'I. 


45:3 


dans  nearly  to  the  mouth  (>[  the  Missouri,  and  Jesei'bes 
others  of  siniiUir  character  t(j  the  northward  of  Cineinnai'. 

lie  supposes  that  the  adventurers,  who  sailed  from  Wales 
in  the  year  1170,  and  were  never  tiienceforth  heard  from, 
after  landing  at  Florida,  or  near  the  mouth  i)f  the  Missis- 
sippi, made  their  way  to  Ohio;  that  they  there  became 
involved  in  hostilities  with  the  natives,  and  were  eventually 
all  cut  olf,  with  the  exception  of  the  half-breeds  who  had 
sprung  up  from  connection  with  the  women  of  the  coun- 
try; that  these  half-breeds  had  at  one  time  formed  a  pow- 
erful ti'ibc,  but  had  gradually  been  reduced  to  those  whom 
we  have  described,  and  had  removed  or  been  driven  far- 
ther and  flarther  up  the  Misscniri,  The  arguments  upon 
wliieh  this  hypothesis  is  based  arc  drawn  from  a  careful 
examination  of  ancient  western  fortifications;  from  phys- 
ical j)eculiaritie8  and  the  analogies  in  language  above  re- 
ferred to;  from  certain  arts  of  working  in  j)ottery,  kc] 
and  from  the  remarkable  and  isolated  position  occupied  by 
the  tribe  in  question  among  hostile  nations  of  indubitable 
aboriginal  characteristics.  The  theory  is,  to  say  the  least, 
plausible,  and  ably  supported. 

In  the  summer  of  1888,  the  small-pox  was  communi- 
cated to  the  Mandans  from  some  infected  persons  on  board 
one  of  the  steamers  belonging  to  a  company  of  fur-traders. 
So  virulent  was  the  disease,  that  in  a  few  weeks  it  sw''})t 
off  the  whole  tribe,  except  a  few  who  fell  into  the  hands 
of  their  enemies,  the  liiearees.  One  principal  reason  for 
the  excessive  mortality  is  said  to  have  been,  that  hostile 
hands  of  Indians  had  beset  the  village,  and  the  iidiabit- 
auts  were  consequently  unable  to  separate,  or  to  place  the 
infected  in  an  isolated  position. 

The  scene  of  death,  lamenta^^'^m,  and  terror  is  said  by 
those  who  witnessed  it  to  have  been  frightful  in  the  ex- 
treme. Gi'cat  numbers  perished  by  leaping  into  the  river, 
in  the  parox3'sm  of  fever,  being  too  weak  to  swim  out. 


A  \M' 


454 


INDIAN  i;aci:s  of  amkimca. 


17 


Tliosc  wlio  died  in  tiicvilla^ju  lay  in  heaps  upon  llic  flooi-s 
of  the  huts.  Of  tlio  few  secured  by  the  Kiearecs  who  took 
possession  of  tlie  depopulated  village,  nearly  all  wen'  sai<l 
to  have  been  killed  during  some  subsequent  hostilities,  so 
that  uow  scarce  a  vestige  of  the  tribe  can  be  supposiMl  to 
remain. 

The  Mandans  wore  probably  all  congregated  at  llnir 
prinei{)al  village  at  the  time  of  the  great  calamity:  the 
other  village  was  situated  two  miles  below,  was  a  small 
settlement,  and  was  used,  us  wc  are  led  to  infer,  merely  lor 
a  temporary  "au/nvner  residence  for  a  few  of  the  noted 
families." 

^[r.  Catlin  adds  the  following  items  to  his  account  of  the 
annihilation  of  this  interesting  tribe:  "There  is  yet  a  mel- 
ancholy part  of  the  tale  to  be  told,  relating  to  the  ravages 
of  this  frightful  disease  in  that  country  on  the  same  occa- 
sion, as  it  spread  to  other  contiguous  tribes,  the  Minatur- 
rees,  the  Knisteneaux,  the  Blackfeet,  the  Chayennes,  oud 
the  Crows;  amongst  whom  twenty-five  thousand  perislu'd 
in  the  course  of  four  or  five  months,  which  most  appalling 
facts  I  got  from  Major  Pilchcr,  su})erintendent  of  Jndlan 
affairs  at  St.  Louis,  from  Mr.  McKenzie,  and  others." 


lUIl'.KS  WKST  OF  'J'llK  MISSISSIITI.  455 

CIIAPTKU  III. 

TIIK    SIOITX  CONTINI'KI) — TIIKIK    M(»I)K  (»!•    UFP, — MATERNAL  AFFEC 
Tlo.N — KXPOSIJKK  OF  THK  A(iKI) — TICK  FAMOUS  QirARRY  OF  KEl) 

rH'K-STONE — .NATURE  OF  THIS  MATEKIAI, INDIAN  SUPERSTI- 

TIONS  KESI'ECTI.\(i  IT — TIIK  ItlSON  (iK  IIUFKALO — HORSES  OF 

THE  INDIANS — VARIOUS    MODES  OF  HUNTINCt  THE  BUF- 

FA  1,0 — WASTEFUL  DESTUUCTION  OK  THE  HERDS. 

TiiK  Sioux  projier,  knov/n  among  tlicmselvcs  aiul  by 
other  Indian  tribes  as  Dalicotas,  are  one  of  the  mo.st  ex- 
tensively diil'u.-^ed  natioius  of  tlio  west.  From  tlie  Upper 
Mississippi,  where  they  mingle  with  the  northern  raee  of 
Chippewas,  to  the  Missouri,  and  far  in  the  north-west 
towards  the  country  of  the  I'laekfect,  the  tribes  of  this 
family  occupy  the  boundless  prairie. 

Those  living  on  the  AIississiji{)i  and  St.  Peter's  rely 
jKirtially,  as  we  have  mentioned,  u])on  agricultur(>,  and 
their  proximity  t*^  the  white  settlements  has  changed,  and 
too  often  degraded  their  native  character.  The  more  dis- 
tant tribes,  subsisting  almost  entirely  upon  the  flesh  of  the 
biiHUlo,  clothed  with  skins,  and  using  the  native  weapons 
of  their  race,  still  remain  in  a  state  of  rude  freedom  and 
independence.  Graphic  descriptions  of  their  wild  life, 
their  skill  and  dexterity  in  the  chase,  and  innumerable 
amusing  and  striking  incidents  of  travel,  and  portraitures 
of  private  and  natural  character,  are  to  be  found  scattered 
through  the  pages  of  Catlin's  interesting  narrative. 

One  of  the  most  remark ;djle  and  touching  traits  of  char- 
acter described  by  this  author,  as  observable  among  the 
Sioux,  is  the  strength  of  maternal  affection.  Infant  chil- 
dren, according  to  the  common  custom  of  v/estern  Indians, 
are  carried,  for  the  first  six  or  seven  months  of  their  ex 
istcnce,  strapped  immoveably  to  a  board,  the  hands  and 
anus  being  generally  left  at  liberty.     A  hoop  protects  the 


*,.. 


t  :i  f     I 


mv 


450 


INDIAN    |{A<|,s  OF  A.MKUICA. 


« 


I' 


c'liiM's  Hicc  (VoiM  injury  in  am'  (/f  :i  fall,  jmd  tlic  wl.ulo 
iipiiaratus  is  oCtcii  lii;:lil}'  (jriiiitiiciitiMl  witii  fViii.^c  ari'l  tm. 
l)nii(lcry.  'I'liis  j»a''k  or  craillt;  is  jtrovidcd  with  ii  l>i.i;;,l 
baml,  \vlii(;li  is  jiassnl  iciind  the  i'oi'clii'ad  of  the  iimtln  i-^ 
Kiistaiiiiii;,'  tin:  Wfi^dit  of  tlu;  cliiM  jjeiulaiit  at  her  l>;ir!,. 
'I'liosi!  wlio  lijivo  hccii  most  faiiiiliar  with  tliis  hkkIc  ,  ;' 
fi'catiiinit,  generally  approve  (A'  it  jus  best  suited  to  the  ]]['■■ 
li'<l  1»\-  th'-  Indian,  and  as  in  no  way  cruel  U)  the  cin;  1. 
AlttT  the  infant  has  in  .some  degree  nequired  the  iisrot  iis 
limhs,  it  is  freed  from  thcM!  incumbrances,  and  borne  in  il.n 
fold  of  the  mother's  blanket. 

"If  the  infant  dies  dnrin;^'  the  time  that  is  allotted  ti  it 
to  li(!  carried  in  this  cradle,  it  is  bui-ied,  and  the  diseon.-n- 
hile  mother  (ills  the  (Madh;  with  black  quills  and  fi'athi:.-, 
in  tiie  parts  whitth  tlu;  (child's  body  hail  occupied,  and  iii 
this  way  carries  it  around  with  her  wherever  she  goes  )' r 
a  year  or  moi'c,  with  as  much  care  as  if  her  infant  wi  :,; 
alive  and  in  it;  and  she  oHen  lays  or  stands  it  agaiii.-t  lln' 
f^idc  of  the  wigwam,  where  slu;  is  all  dav  en<'a<rcd  ui;li 
licr  nce(ll(;-woi'k,  and  chatting  and  talking  U)  it  as  fiunil- 
iariy  and  afreetionatcdy  as  if  it  were  her  hn-ed  inlii:,;, 
instead  of  its  shell,  th.at  she  wa.«  talking  to.  So  Insiii:.' 
and  so  strong  is  the  aiVecMon  of  these  wunieu  lor  the  I-.t 
child,  that  it  matters  not  how  lieavy  or  cmiel  their  loail,  it 
how  rugg(;d  the  rout<;  they  have  to  pass  ovi'r,  thcv  uiil 
liiithfully  carry  this,  and  carefully,  from  day  to  day,  ai.'! 
even  mon."  strictly  perform  their  duties  to  it,  than  if  t!i" 
child  were  alive  and  in  it." — {biters  and  Xutts  of  (jcm-ji' 
Cull  in.) 

What  ajipears,  at  first  glance,  to  be  one  of  the  ini  .-t 
revolting  and  cruel  customs  of  the  migratory  Sioux  tril".-, 
(a  custom  connnon  toother  western  nations.)  is  th  u'.\p(»-iiii,' 
of  the  old  and  inrirm  to  ])ci'isli,  after  they  have  hccomc 
unable  to  keej)  up  with  the  tribe.  AVe  are  told,  however, 
that  dire  necessity  compels  them  to  this  cour.se,  unless  they 


t  > 


oriir  111  ti.c 


TlllUK.S  WKST  <>[■-  llil.  \I1S.-I.-  -ll';'l 


I'M 


would  — inoro  liumitucl v,  it  Is  ti''ic  —  at  nine  put  ;i;i  rti'l  to 
tlif  lives  of  such  uiiroitmi;itr,>.  Tlii-  nIil  Mill'.-ivr  imi  only 
ii.-.M'iits  to  tlic  pruccrdiiig,  l>iit  -iiiifally  >ii;^';4<'sts  it,  wlicii 
oiiisciouri  that  ho  is  too  urak  t<»  traxcl,  or  to  !)>•  of  any 
,:ii'tlii'r  sorvicif  !Uiioii,i;  liis  |u'm|i!c.  With  sonic  sli'/ht  \>y<>- 
t  ■'•liuji  over  liim,  and  a  htt!c  Un><\  \,y  his  .>idi',  hi-  is  icll  to 
i!ii'.  and  he  dcvouivd  hy  the  woKts. 

Ccitaiii  tiihcs  o|'  lliis  nation,  far  tip  the  Missouri,  are  in 
till'  iiahit  i»r  |ii'rl'(PiMiiin,ij;  xaridus  ci'irinonii'.^  of  scH'li>rtnn; 
i  I  tlirir  rehgious  cxcrcisi'S,  somrw  hat  anaI'iL,0)iis  to  those  (.(f 
lilt'  Mamhms,  hut  si'l(h)ni,  ircN-er,  are  th^'V  eal'lieil  to  .-iich 
;iii  cxti'nt  as  we  have  (h'scrihcd  in  ticatini''  ni'  tliat  tnhc. 

In  tlie  Sioux  eoiiiitrv,  at  the  southern  cxti'eniity  ol'  the 
iii;.'li  rid.L;!',  raHe<l  the  ('otcau  <h'S  Prairies,  whii'ii  sejiarates 
t!ii'  iicail-waters  of  the  St.  I'etcr's  from  the  MisxMiii,  is 
.Mliiatfd  tlie  far-laiiieil  i|narry  nf  r'd  pijpc-stMnc.  INjics  ul" 
this  liii'iiiatioii  are  seen  thiMU'^hiHit  tin'  wh"!!'  of  tin'  wrst. 


ii'i  dlhi'i'  material  h(.'in'j:  eonsi(le!V(l  snit 


lh;e. 


Tlie  distri.'t 


u;is  foriiiei'ly  considered  as  a  soiM  of  iieutial  L:;roiind,  when; 
liiistile  trilies  from  fai'and  neai' niivlit  harmoniously  resort 
t'l  siipply  the  all-essential  want  of  the  Indian.  Those 
\rrsed  in  the  mysteries  of  Indian  hei';i](liy  have  deeijiheieil 
tli(,'  distiuL-'uishinj'  marks  and  t'seiiteheons  of  a  iii'eat  num- 
her  of  western  nations,  insei'ihed  ujion  adjai'ent  I'oeks. 
"C  late  y(>ai's  tlu!  Sioux  have  alVeeteil  a  monopoly  in  tlie 
jiii)iliiet>  of  this  (juarry,  and  it  was  not  witli(;ut  the  mo.-t 
\clie!iient  opposition  that  Mr.  ('allin  and  his  eompanions, 
lid  hy  curiosity  to  visit  the  remote  and  (.'t'lehrati'tl  place. 
Were  ci, allied  to  malce  tlieii-  way  through  the  Indian  set- 
llciiicnts  fallen  in  with  on  the  i-oiUe\ 

Throngs   of   (hisk}'   warrioi's,   at   these  stojiping-plaecs, 
"Aoiild  asseuible  to  discuss,  with  gi'cat  heat  and  exeitemcni, 
the  true  motives  of  the  strangers.     The  genei'al   imj ires 
sioii  seemed   to  he  that  the   ti'avellers  were  government 
ugeiits,  sent  to  survey  the  locality  for  the  pui'jiose  ui'  ap}iio- 


J' 


■I 


f 


"1^1 


4'  i( 


ri  . 


'4^M\ 


Illl 


r' If 


'  * 


i 


458 


IXDIAX    ILVCES  OF  AMKIMCA. 


priation,  and  one  and  all  expressed  a  determination  to 
perish  rather  than  n'linijuish  their  rights  to  this,  their  nifi>t 
valued  })hu;e  of  resort. 

The  stone  is  obtained  hy  digging  to  a  depth  of  scvcra! 
f(.'et  in  the  i)rairie,  at  tlie  foot  of  a  preeipitous  wall  (■!' 
quart/,  roeks.  'i'hc  ^vhole  geologieal  formation  of  tlmt 
distriet  is  deserihed  as  exeeedingly  singular,  and  the  \<\\<r- 
stone  formation  is,  itself,  entirely  unique.  ^J'his  niatcnul 
is  "harder  than  gyjjsuni,  and  softer  than  earhonate  nf 
lime;"  "t  is  asserted  that  a  })reeisely  similar  formation  has 
been  fouiul  at  no  other  spot  upon  the  globe.  The  eoiii|i()- 
nent  materials,  aeeording  to  the  analysis  of  Mr.  Catlin's 
speeimeiis,  by  ])r  Jaekson,  of  Boston,  are  as  follows: 
'•water,  8,-i;  siliea,  •i8,2;  alumina,  28,2  magnesia,  (i,(i: 
earbonate  of  lime,  2,(5;  peroxide  of  iron,  5,0;  oxide  ut 
manganese,  0,')." 

The  Indii'iis  use  the  st(jne  oidy  in  the  manufacture  of 
pi])es;  h)  aj'l'ly  it  t(;  any  other  use  they  esteem  the  niMsi 
unheai-d-of  saei'ilege.  From  the  affmity  of  its  color  to 
that  of  their  own  skins  they  draw  some  faneifid  Icgi'inl  <A 
its  formation,  at  the  time  of  the  great  tleluge,  out  of  tin. 
flesh  of  the  perishing  red  men.  They  esteem  it  one  (>f  tlie 
choicest  gifts  of  the  Great  Spirit. 

I'he  following  extracts  from  the  speeches  of  some  Sioux 
chiefs,  through  whose  village  Mr,  Catlin  passed  on  his  way 
to  the  (piarry,  may  serve  to  exemplify  the  veneration  with 
which  the  stone  was  regarded. 

"  Vou  see,"  said  one,  (holding  a  red  ])ipe  to  the  side  of 
his  naked  arm,)  "that  this  pij)e  is  a  part  of  our  llc^h. 
The  red  meii  are  a  i)art  of  the  red  stone.  ('How,  howl'/ 
an  expression  of  strong  apj)robation  from  the  auditors. 

"If  the  white  men  take  away  a  piece  of  the  red  jiiiie- 
stonc,  it  is  a  liole  made  in  our  flesh,  and  the  blood  will 
always  run.  Wo  cannot  stop  the  blood  from  running. 
('Uow,  how^f)  The  Great  Spirit  has  told  us  that  the  red 


J' 


TFJIJES  WEST  OF  THE  IILSSISSIPPI. 


459 


Stone  id  only  to  be  used  for  ]>i}H'S,  and  tlirougli  tlicm  we 
are  to  sindko  to  him.     ('  Howl')'' 

The  iKxt  speaker  jironouneed  the  stc^ne  to  be  jiriceless, 
as  it  was  iiirdiriitt'.  Another,  after  a  preliniinaiy  vaunt (f 
Lis  (V.vn  prowess,  arid  worthiness  to  be  listened  to,  pr(j- 
cocJed :  "We  hjve  to  go  to  tlie  IMpe-Stonc,  and  gx't  a 
[licee  H'r  our  pipes;  but  we  ask  the  Great  Spirit  tir.-t.  11' 
tin;  white  men  go  to  it,  they  will  take  it  out,  and  not  lill 
up  the  holes  again,  and  the  Great  Spirit  will  be  oil'eiuU'd. 
(•lluw,  how,  how!')" 

AiKjlher — "My  friends,  listen  to  me!  what  I  am  to  say 
will  bo  truth.  ('  llow  !')  I  bought  a  large  pieee  of  the  ]>ipi'- 
stDiie,  and  gave  it  to  a  white  man  to  make  a  l)ipe;  he  was 
iiur  tra<lei',  and  I  wished  him  to  have  a  good  pipe.  I'he 
la'xt  time  I  went  to  his  store,  I  was  uidiappy  when  I  saw 
that  stone  made  into  a  dish!  ('Kugh!') 

'■'riiis  is  the  way  the  white  men  would  use  the  I'ed  jiijic 
stone  if  they  eould  get  it.  Sueh  eoudiiet  would  ulfeiid  the 
<iit'at  Spli'it,  and  make  a  red  man's  heart  .^iek.  ('How, 
how!')" 

^^any  of  the  })ipes  in  use  among  the  Sioux,  and  formed 
of  this  material,  are  shaped  with  great  lab(jr  and  nicct}', 
and  often  in  very  ingcmicjus  fiurures.  Those  intendcil  for 
calumets  or  pipes  of  peaee,  arc  gorge(jus]y  doeoratfd,  but 
even  those  in  oi-dinary  use;  arc  generally  made  as  orna- 
iiKiiital  as  pi'actieable.  '^Fhe  eavitv  is  drillrd  hy  nioaiis  of 
aliardstieic,  with  sand  and  water;  the  outer  foi-m,  wMli  the 
carvings  and  groti'S(pie  figui'i's,  is  workt'(l  with  a  kn'fo. 

Various  nareotic  herbs  and  leaves,  whci'c  tobaeeo  i  •■  not 
to  he  obtained,  are  used  for  smoking,  under  tlu;  name  i-f 
'kiii('kd<niek;"  the  same  term  is  used  among  some  south- 
ern Indians  to  dencjte  a  mixture  of  tobaeeo  an.d  sumaeh 
leaves. 

In  the  far  west,  both  among  the  Sioux  and  otluM'  wild 
tnhcs,  as  the  hunt  of  the  buffalo  is  by  far  the  most  import- 


i    ' 


1 

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INDIAN  i:acks  of  A]\Ij:iaCA. 


unt  occupation  oftlie  tiumi,  we  will  devote  soino  little  spnce 
lo  a  (le.seriptioii  of  the  liahitsof  the  aniiual,  and  the  ii;itive 
modes  of  pursuing  and  destroying  it.  'i'he  hiul-lo  or 
bison  of  America,  is  found  at  the  ])resent  day  tlnou-iiout 
no  small  portion  of  the  vast  unsettled  country  between  (uu 
western  frontier  and  the  liock}'-  Mountains,  from  the  suii;L- 
crn  ])arts  of  'J'exas  to  the  cold  and  desolate  regions  df  thu 
north,  even  to  latitude  fifty-five  degrees.  No  where aie  ihrs.' 
a  limals  more  abundant,  or  in  a  situation  more  c<)rigciii;il 
to  their  increase,  and  tlu;  development  of  their  puwc'is. 
than  in  the  western  country  of  the  Sioux.  During  certain 
seasons  of  the  year,  they  congregate  in  immense  herds,  hut 
are  generally  distributed  over  the  country  in  small  cm- 
l)anies,  wandering  about  in    .^ar'-li  of  the  best  pasturai^v. 

They  have  no  certain  i-outine  of  migration,  ahli(jii-h 
those  whusc  occu].'ation  leads  to  a  study  of  their  nieve- 
ments  can  in  some  localities  jioint  out  the  general  ei)Ui>e 
of  their  trail;  and  this  uncertainty  renders  the  niude  ef 
subsistence  depended  upon  by  extensive  western  tribes  ut' 
Indians  exceedingly  precarious. 

The  most  vrluable  possessions  of  tb',\sc  races,  and  the 
most  essential  in  the  pursuit  of  the  buffalo,  are  their  herses. 
These  useful  auxiliaries  are  of  the  wild  prairie  brei^l,  ex- 
tensively spread  over  the  western  territory,  the  deseendanis 
of  those  originally  brought  over  by  the  Spaniards  in  tlie 
sixteenth  century.  They  are  small,  but  strong  and  lianly. 
and  superior  in  speed  to  any  other  of  the  wild  animals  el' 
the  prairie.  Numbers  of  them  are  kejit  about  the  eueaiii]!- 
ment  of  the  Indians,  hobbled  so  as  to  prevent  their  strayin-- 
away.  Upon  the  open  ])rairie  the  bison  is  generally  jnu- 
sucd  upon  h(M-seback,  with  the  lance  and  bow  and  arrow. 
The  short  stiif  bow  is  little  calculated  for  accurate  niark- 
manship,  jt  for  a  distant  shot:  riding  at  full  speed,  the 
Indian  generally  waits  till  he  has  overtaken  his  prey,  and 
discharges  his  arrow  from  the  distance  of  a  few  feet. 


Tzrzi 


TllIlJE.S  WEST  OF  THE  MlS,<I.-.>irri. 


-1(U 


The  ndinirablc  training  of  the  liOrsc,  to  wliorn  tlio  riilcr 
is  obliged  to  give  loDse  ivin  as  lie  approaclics  liis  olijcet 
and  jireparcs  to  inflict  the  deadly  woluuI,  is  no  less  h-jUcc- 
able  than  the  spirit  and  energy  of  the  riilei'. 

Siieli  is  the  force  with  A\hieh  the  arrow  is  tbrtnvn,  that 
re])eated  instances  are  related  of  its  complete  jiassage 
through  tlie  huge  body  of  the  bulfalo,  and  its  exit  upon 
the  opposite  side.  This  near  a})proach  to  the  powerfid  and 
iiifni'iated  animal  is  by  no  means  without  danger.  .M- 
iHoU'ih  tl'c  hor.se,  fi'om  instinctive  fear  of  the  bulTalo's 
liiii'ii-',  sheei's  off  immediately  ii})oii  })assing  him,  it  is  not 
always  done  with  sullicient  quickness  to  avoid  his  sti'oke. 
The  hunter  is  .said  to  be  so  carried  away  by  the  excitement 
and  exhilaration  of  })ursuit,  as  to  bo  a})j);irently  ]»ei'i'eetly 
reckless  of  his  own  .safety ;  trusting  ctirely  to  the  .sagacity 
and  quickness  of  his  lu)i'se  to  take  him  out  of  the  (hinger 
\u\ij  which  ho  is  rushing. 

The  noose,  or  lasso,  used  in  catching  wild  hoi'ses,  is 
(ifleu  left  trailing  upon  the  ground  during  the  chase,  to 
allbrd  the  hunter  an  easy  means  of  securing  and  remount- 
ing his  horse  in  ca.se  he  sIkjuKI  be  dismounted,  by  the 
attack  of  the  buffalo  or  otlierwise. 

In  the  winter  season  it  is  common  for  the  Iii(hans  of  the 
northern  hititudes  to  di'ivc  the  buffalo  herds  from  the 
bare  ridges,  where  they  collect  to  feed  upon  the  ex])osfil 
herbage,  into  the  snow-covered  valleys.  'J'he  nnwirldy 
beasLs,  as  they  flounder  through  the  (b'ifts,  ai'c  easily  ovei'- 
taken  by  the  hunter.s,  sujtported  by  their  snow-shoes,  and 
killed  with  the  lance  or  bow.  Another  method,  adojiicl 
bvtlie  Incban.s,  is  to  put  o\i  thedi.sgui.seofawliit<>  \voi('-.-hni, 
and  steal  unsuspected  among  tiie  herd,  where  they  can 
select  their  prey  at  leisui'e.  J'acks  of  wolves  frequently 
follow  the  herds,  to  feed  uj)on  the  earea.sses  of  those  that 
peri.sh,  or  the  remains  left  by  the  hunters,  '^riu.y  dai'c  not 
attack  them  in  a  body,  and  are  consequently  no  objects  of 


r:i^:iijf':..      ill 


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m^T 


HiiiPii 


4G2 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


terror  to  the  Lufililoes;  Init,  sliouM  un  old  or  woumli'l  ,i;, 
itnal  be  se]>firute(l  from  the  company,  they  collect  ai'iniiui 
him,  a:'d  gradually  weary  him  out  and  devour  hiin, 

AVheu  bufl'alo  are  rletity,  atid  the  Indians  have  I'nir  (,p. 
|)ortunitv,  the  most  astonishing  and  wasteful  slauuhtor 
ensues.  Ijcsides  the  ordinary  methoils  oi"  destruelidii,  the 
custom  of  driving  immense  herds  over  some  ])i'cei})ito\is 
ledge,  where  those  behind  tram]>le  down  and  thrust  over 
the  foremost,  until  hundreds  and  thousands  arc  destroyed, 
has  been  often  described. 

Kven  at  seasons  in  which  the  fur  is  valueless,  and  little 
besides  a  present  supply  of  food  can  be  obtaine<l  by  de- 
stroying the  animal  which  constitutes  their  sole  resource, 
no  spirit  of  forethought  or  providence  restrains  the  wild 
hunters  of  the  prairie.  j\[r.  Catlin,  when  at  the  nioiitli  of 
'Jeton  river,  Upper  Missouri,  in  lb;J2,  was  told  that  a  few 
days  previous  to  his  arrival,  a  party  of  Sioux  had  returned 
IVum  a  hunt,  bringing  fourteen  hundi'cd  bulVahj  tciigucs, 
all  that  they  liad  secured  of  tlieir  booty,  and  that  these 
were  immediately  traded  away  for  a  ^(2\v  gallons  of  whiskcv. 

This  author  goes,  at  considerable  length,  into  a  calcula- 
tion of  the  causes  now  ai  work,  which  must,  in  his  ojtiiiinii, 
necessarily  result  in  the  entire  extinction  of  these  animals, 
and  the  consequent  destitution  of  the  numerous  tribes  that 
derive  support  from  their  pursuit.  ^Vecording  to  his  ivji- 
resentations,  we  "draw  from  that  country  one  hundivd  and 
fifty  or  two  hundred  thousand  of  their  robes  annually,  the 
greater  part  of  which  are  taken  from  animals  that  are 
killed  expressly  for  the  robe,  at  a  season  when  the  meat  is 
not  cured  and  preserved,  and  for  (>a(di  of  which  skins  the 
Indian  has  received  but  a  pint  of  whiskey! 

Such  is  the  fact,  and  that  nund)er,  or  near  it,  arc  annu- 
ally destroyed,  in  addition  to  the  innnber  that  is  neccssai'ily 
killed  for  the  subsistence  ot  three  hundred  thousand  lu- 
dians,  who  live  entirely  upon  them.'' 


('• 


m 


TKIJ5KS  WEST  (JK  TIIK  .Ml;-.-'l,-.-l  IM'l. 


hi;; 


AVlien  this  extcriiiiiuitio!!  i^linll  have  taken  }ila:'i',  if,  i/i- 
deed,  it  should  take  ]daco  btd'ore  other  eauses  shall  liavo 
aniiihihitcd  the  Indian  nations  of  the  west,  it  is  didleult  to 
cuiiccivc  to  Avhat  these  will  resort  for  subsistenee.  Will 
tlicy  gradually  perish  i\\nn  sheer  destitution,  or,  as  has 
been  predicted,  will  they  be  driven  to  violence  and  plunder 
upon  our  western  fi'ontier? 


CHAPTER   IV. 

INDIANS    ()]•  TMF,    (iKTAT  WRSTF.HN    PK.AntlKS — THEIR    SI'MMER   AM) 

WINTKU     r.ODGKS TIIK    iM  KUICINK-1!AG  — TIIK  CIU)  WS   AND   lil-ACK- 

KKKT HACKS    IIOSTII.H  TO  TIIK    LATTKR  TRIliK VORTITUDK  OF 

A  lil-ACKFOOT  WARKIOR THK  CKOW  CHIEF  ARAI'OOISH  AND 

HIS  GUEST INDIAN  CONCEPTIONS  OF  A   PKHFKCT  COUNTRY 

STORY  OF   LORETTO  AND  HIS   IMUAN   WIFE ADVKN- 

TURES  OF   KOSATO,   A    IW.Ai  KFOOT  WARKIOR. 

Upox  the  Yellowstone,  and  about  the  head-waters  of 
the  Missouri,  the  most  noted  tiibus  are  the  (.'rows  and 
hhickfeet.  Bordering  u})ou  them  at  the  iioflI',  and  north- 
cast,  jirc  their  enemies,  the  Ojibbeways,  Knistcnc-aux,  and 
Assinaboins,  of  some  of  whom  brief  mention  has  Ikm  n 
made  in  former  cha})ters.  In  i<>\:  the  lUackCect  were 
t'fjinputed  to  number  over  thirty  thousand,  but  when  the 
f^iaall-pox  swc})t  over  the  western  country,  in  bS.'is^  tlicv 
Were  frightfully  reduced.  Wy  the  returns  ol"  l^^oO,  tiirv 
Were  represented  as  amounthig  to  about  thirteen  thousand. 

As  these  Indians  ai'c  among  the  farthest  removed  from 
the  contaminating  influence  of  the  whites,  and  as  the 
prairie  abounds  in  all  that  is  re(pisit(»  fortiieir  subsist«Mice, 
viz-  horses  p.nd  butfalo,  they  })resent  line  s[ieciniens  of  the 
aboriginal  race.     They  are  of  manly  i)ro})ortions,  active, 


■n  I 


■%t 


.  fei 


^1   f 


1 

'             iL- 

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i 

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■=  »•*"  ■  ■ 

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464 


INDIAN   HArilS  OF  AAIKllK'A. 


and  c;i|.;il)lc  of  grciit  oniluraiice:  tlicir  dress  is  inifticnlaflv 
cntii(i)rt;il)!c  an<l  oniaiii'Mital,  luMlcckcil  with  all  tin'  cin- 
broidery  ami  rriii;j'es  eli;!raet''ristie  of  sava,L;"e  linerv. 

'J'lie  stylo  of  (livss,  dwellinus,  means  of  sid)sistenee,  cVc 
Jiiiiong  tlie  Indians  oC  the  westei'ii  prairies,  is  in  nianv  ri'- 
spects  so  similar,  that  we  shall  only  avoid  weai'isdini; 
rc'petition  by  omitting  minute  deseriplions  in  speak i ml;' of 
the  ilillerent  tribes. 

'J'lie  summer  loilge,  neeessai'ily  made  moveable^  to  suit 
their  migi'atory  habits,  is  a  tent  of  ])uira]o-skins,  snpportcil 
by  pine  poh's  brought  fi'om  th(>  distant  mountains.  '\'Vx<^\ 
skins  ai'c  neatly  and  substantially  stitclied  together.  Mini 
often  highly  |)ainte(l  and  orna.mented.  The  tent  is  trans- 
})0i1.ed  by  tying  tlie  poles  in  two  l)und]es,  the  small  ends 
of  whieh,  bound  together,  are  liung  over  tlie  shoulders  nt' a 
horse,  while  the  butts  trail  upon  the  ground,  loaded  with 
the  weight  of  the  skins  ami  oth(>r  ]>ara])hcrnalia  of  the 
lodge.  The  dogs  ai'O  also  })ressed  into  the  same  service, 
and  loaded,  in  much  the  same  manner,  with  as  laige  a 
load  as  they  can  carry. 

The  cold  winter  is  jiassed  in  some  spot  protected  hv 
liiuh  blulfs  or  heavv  tind)er,  either  in  these  skin  loduvs, 
or  in  rude  wia;wams  of  Iolts. 

It  is  among  these  remote  races  that  we  may  still  sco 
many  of  the  ancient  superstitious  observances  (formei'ly, 
with  slight  variation,  common  to  nearlv  the  whole  popu- 
lation of  the  west,)  retained  with  all  their  original  solem- 
nity. One  of  the  most  singular  avid  universal  is  tin' 
])reparation  of  a  "niedi(;ine-liag,"  which  every  man  eai'i'ies 
with  him  upon  all  occasions,  as  being  intricately  involved 
with  his  own  safety  and  success  in  war,  hunting,  or  auvof 
the  occupations  of  life.  At  about  tlie  age  of  pnl)erty  the 
Indian  boy  bethinks  himself  of  taking  the  necessary  stej  s 
for  the  preparation  of  this  rnysterions  amulet  or  eharin. 
lie  retires  to  some  solitary  spot,  where  he  spends  several 


ill  iiiaiiy  IV- 
.  wciirisi.Miii? 
spcakiii.L;  of 


f 


\'  -iy 


I  as  lai'ge  a 


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If 


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Si 

Hi 

Hill 

Hv  kI 

■ 

IF 

Pii 

^       ! 


P 


TUIIU.S  WEST  OF  THK  MISSISSU'l'I. 


'1(5.: 


(lay.«,  lyini:;  upon  the  groniid,  taking  no  nonrishnicnt,  nnd 
ciniiloycd  in  continual  fervent  invoeations  to  the  <!ii'at 
Spirit.  I^'alling  asliH'p  in  tliis  ooiiditicjii,  lie  notes  ])aiti('U- 
hirly  what  hi  I'd  or  animal  first  occurred  to  his  niind  in 
dreams.  He  then  returns  home,  and,  after  reeruitiiiL;-  iiis 
strength,  busies  himself  in  the  j)iirsuit  of  the  eifaturo 
until  he  has  secured  a  specimen.  Tiiis  acconij)lishe(l,  he 
dresses  the  skin,  stuffs  it  with  moss  or  some  other  liuht 
suhstancc,  and  devotes  his  attention  to  bedecking  it  with 
the  most  elaborate  ornament. 

This  medicine-bag  can  be  procured  at  no  price,  ami  the 
loss  of  it,  even  in  the  heat  of  battle,  is  a  signal  disgi'a('(>, 
only  to  be  wiped  out  by  the  seizure  of  a  similar  charm 
from  a  slaughtered  enemy-.  "These  curious  appendages," 
RiysCatlin,  "to  the  ])ersons  or  wardrobe  of  an  Indian,  arc 
sometimes  made  of  the  skin  of  an  otter,  a  beaver,  a  musk- 
rat,  a  wcazel,  a  racoon,  a  pole-cat,  a  snake,  a  frog,  a  toad, 
a  hat,  a  mouse,  a  mole,  a  hawk,  an  eagle,  a  magjiii',  oi'  a 
sparrow; — sometimes  of  the  skin  of  an  animal  so  large  as 
a  wolf;  and  at  others,  of  the  skins  of  the  lesser  animals, 
<o  small  that  they  are  hidden  under  the  dj'css,  and  very 
diflicult  to  be  found,  even  if  searched  for." 

The  strange  and  hideous  conjurations  of  the  medicine- 
men or  necromancers,  who  perform  their  ceremonies  alxnit 
the  sick  or  dying  with  a  view  to  their  relief,  may  be  here 
seen  in  their  utmost  extravagance. 

The  Crows  arc  far  inferior  in  numbers  to  the  Blackfeet, 
with  whom  they  are  engaged  in  perpetual  warfare.  'Tiny 
inhabit  the  country  adjacent  to  the  Yellowstone,  as  far 
westward  as  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  M^ountains.  'I'hey  are 
a  fine  race,  physically  speaking;  their  average  height  is 
greatly  beyond  that  of  any  of  the  neighboring  tribes,  and 
they  are  models  of  activity  and  strength.  They  have  hern 
characterized  as  a  lawless,  thieving  horde  of  savngcs;  but 
those  best  acquainted  with  their  character  and  disposition, 
80 


1^ 


1^ 


im 


INhlAN'    KACKS  OF  AMKUIC'A. 


ppi'iik  (»r  tliem  as  honest  aii'l  tnist-uoilliy,  arid  excuse 
tlie  (lepro'latioiis  of  Avliieh  they  have  f'rum  tune  to  time 

1 II  guilty,  as  huvinj,^  t'cMierally  resulted  from  gross  nro- 

vocation.  I'Voin  whatever  eause,  and  wliiclicver  rai'e  nuiv 
have  been  the  most  in  fault,  it  is  certain  that  tin  twu 
wild  tribes  of  which  wo  ai'c  now  speaking  ha\-e  Ixcn,  \];,\[\ 
the  earliest  periods  in  which  Europeans  have  iteiietratcil 
their  territory,  objects  of  terror  to  tra(.ei's  and  trajipeis. 

One  distinguishing  peculiarity  (jf  these  Indians,  is  the 
exti'aordinary  length  of  their  haii',  which  is  cherished  and 
cidtivated  as  an  ornament,  until  it  sweej)stlie  ground  after 
them.  This  profusion  is  to  be  ;>een  in  no  tribe  except  the 
Ci'ows,  although  some  of  their  neighlxjrs  endeavor  to  imi- 
tate it,  by  glueing  an  additional  length  to  their  natural  hair. 

The  Crows  speak  a  diiferent  language  from  the  lilaek- 
feet,  ..in],  as  W(;  have  mentioJied,  are  continually  at  war 
with  that  tribe.  They  onl}'  luunber  about  four  thousand, 
and  are  coTi.-jequcntly  at  great  disadvantage  in  tlie.-o 
hostilities. 

The  smalU^r  Minitai'i  tribes,  between  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellowstone  and  the  site  of  the  Mandan  villages,  and  the 
extensive  nation  of  the  Gnjs  Ventres,  inhabitiiiLr  the  east- 
era  slope  of  the  IJocky  A[e)untains,  si)eak  the  same  lan- 
guage with  the  Crows,  or  one  very  nearly  allied  to  it.  Th..' 
Arapahoes,  numbering  some  three  thousand,  and  dwelling 
about  the  sources  of  the  Platte  and  Arkansas  rivers,  belong 
t()  the  race  of  th.o  r31ackfeet. 

The  latter  nation,  besides  their  enemies  at  the  East,  have 
had,  from  an  indefinite  })criod,  to  contend  with  the  Fhit- 
head  and  other  tribes  still  farther  westward.  The  descent 
of  these  remote  bauds  uj)on  the  jdains  in  ])ursuit  of  buHah), 
has  ever  been  deemed  by  the  Blackfeet  a  signal  infringe- 
ment of  their  rights,  and  fierce  battles  often  result  from 
the  condieting  claims  of  the  rival  nations.  Altliou,i:h 
other  game  abounds  in  the  mountain  districts  inhabited 


0  descent 


r^: 


Ti:i!!i;.S  WKSl   t»K  TIIK  MISSISSI ITI. 


4t;7 


by  SOT  no  of  tlieso  tribes,  iiDtliiiig  possesses  siieli  attractions 
for  tlieiii  as  the  Iniiralo-lnmt,  and  they  Jire  nuidy  to  incur 
aiiv  [n'ril  ratlicr  than  relin([nisli  tliis  favoritt;  pursuit. 

The  Xe/,-l'ercesor  Piorccd-Nosc  Iiidians,  the  Khit-hcads, 
ami  tlie  J'*eii<ls  Oreilles  or  Ifangin^i;  Ears,  of  tiie  Koehv 
Mouiitaius  and  their  W(>stern  slopes,  and  of  tlie  phiins 
(h';iiiied  by  the  sourc(\sof  the  Coluinhia,  are  at  continual  a)id 
il'adly  feud  with  the  Blackf(>et.  1'hese  latter  seem,  indeed, 
t-i  have  their  hands  against  every  man,  witli  the  oxce])tioii 
of  their  kindred  Arapahocs,  to  whom  they  make  periodi- 
cal visits  of  friendship. 

Of  the  skirmishes  between  war-parties  of  these  hostile 
tribes,  tlieir  forays  into  each  otlier's  ii^rritory,  and  the  (w- 
j)loits  of  their  most  redoubted  warriors,  many  strikin;^ 
tides  arc  told  by  the  traders  and  trappers  who  visit  tlicse 
jviuotc  regions.  In  Afr.  Irving's  admirable  [)ublication, 
'•'I'he  AdventuH's  of  Captain  llonneville,  U.  S,  A.,  in  the 
llocky  Mountains  and  the  I'^ir  \Vest,"  arranged  in  the  form 
of  interesting  and  pleasing  narrative,  froin  the  captain's 
inaimscripts  and  other  sources,  arc  details  of  various  inci- 
ilcnts  illustrative  of  the  character  and  habit;  of  these  tribes, 
so  told  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  reader,  and  to  leave 
a  vivid  impression  ui)on  the  mind. 

In  Cox's  "Adventures  on  the  Columl)ia  River,"  fright- 
ful descriptions  are  given  of  the  cruelties  practiced  by 
the  Flat-heads  upon  some  Blaekfoot  prisoners  who  had 
I'allen  into  their  hands.  Such  proceedings  a])peared  utterly 
variant  from  the  natural  disposition  of  those  Indians,  and 
only  serve  to  show  to  what  lengths  usage,  a  spirit  of  re- 
taliation, and  natural  antipathy,  may  carry  a  people  whose 
general  character  is  gentle  and  kindly. 

The  author  particularly  describes  the  endurance  of  one 
of  the  Blackftjot  braves,  upon  whom  every  sjjecies  of  tor- 
ture was  tried  in  vain  attempts  to  overcome  his  fortitude. 
lie  exulted  over  his  tormentors,  vaunting  liis  own  deeds 


11^  i 


i 


t;. 

-•■I  I 


^^] 


% 


403 


INDIAN    UA(.'i:S  OF  AMKIMCA. 


> ! 


>  .i 


in  tlio  following'  laii;,'ii:i;,'(!:  '".My  luMrL  is  strong. — Von 
do  not  hurt  nic  — You  (;;in't  hurt  inc.  -You  are  fools.-- 
^'ou  do  not  know  how  to  torture. — Try  it  again. —  I  don't 
li'(!l  any  jiain  yet.  -\V(!  torture;  your  rchitions  a  groat  deal 
bettor,  hooauMc!  we  make  thoin  v.ry  out  loud,  like  little 
children.  Yon  are  not  brave;  you  have  small  hoart.s,  and 
you  lire  always  afraid  to  fight.'  Then,  addressing  one  in 
particular,  he  said,  Mt  was  by  my  arrow  you  lost  your 
oy(!;'  upon  which  the  l''latdiead  darted  at  him,  and  with  a 
knife,  in  a  moment  scoo])ed  out  one  of  his  eyes;  at  tii(! 
same  time,  cutting  t''e  bridge  of  his  nose  nearly  in  two. 
This  did  ntjt  sto[)  him:  with  the  remaining  eye  he  looktil 
sternly  at  an(;lher,  ami  said,  "I  killed  ijour  brother,  and  I 
scalped  your  old  fool  (jf  a  father.'  'i'he  warrior  to  whoia 
this  was  addressed  instantly  sjirung  at  him,  and  severed  the 
scalp  frcMu  his  hca<l." 

The  chief  restrained  this  enraged  warrior  from  termiii 
ating  the  suH'erings  of  the  victim  by  a  blow ;  but  was,  him- 
self, immediately  afterwards  so  exasperated  by  his  taunts 
and  insults,  that  he  could  not  withhold  his  own  hand,  and 
shot  the  mangled  wn.'tch  thn^igh  the  heart. 

Of  the  Ci'ow  character,  a  very  singular  trait  is  exhibited 
in  an  adventure  of  a  noted  traj)por,  Mr  l^>bort  Cainj)bcll, 
as  given  in  Mr.  Jrving's  woik,  above  mentioned.  This 
traveller  was  uj)oii  one  (;ecasio!i  hospitably  entertained  by 
the  celebrated  Crow  ehic-f,  Arapooish,  in  whose  tent  ho 
bad  de})osito(l  a  larg(i  bundle  of  valuable  furs.  I'ho  greater 
j)art  of  his  stores  witu  buried  in  the  ground  for  safety. 

The  old  chief  asc;.'rtained,  during  Campbell's  stay,  that 
his  guest  had  mud--;  a  'cache,"  (the  French  term  ajjplied  to 
such  places  of  concealment,)  and  that  some  of  \v:>  own 
tribe  had  di.scovercd  and  jdundered  it.  The  number  of 
beaver-skins  stolen  was  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Arapooish  immediately  a.sscmbled  all  the  men  of  the 
village,  and  after  making  a  speech,  in  which  he  vehenioutly 


TKIMKS  WKST  OF  TlIK  M  ISSISSI  I'I'I. 


4);;» 


(loclaiiiiod  n'ranist  tlicir  liad  f;iitli  towards  tlic  slnmircr, 
V()\V('(l  that  In-  wouM  iicithfr  tniicli  (iidd  nor  drii  k  until 
completo  rostfjrutioii  slioiild  he  made  lie  tlini  took  liis 
seat  with  i\n;  trapper  in  his  wi;,'waiM,  and  awaileil  the  !(•• 
suit,  dcsirin;^  liis  coinpanion  to  make  no  remarks  if  tli" 
hkins  were  l)rou;^dit,  but  simply  to  ki'cp  uecount  of  them. 

Mon;  than  a  hundred  of  the  stolen  ai'tieles  were  broni^lil 
ill  l)cfor(!  ni.t^dit,  hut  notwithstandinu;('ampheirse.\pressioiis 
(if  satisfaction,  tiie  old  Indian  would  neither  eat  nor  drink 
throu^'hout  that  ni<,dit  and  the  next  day.  '1  he  skins  slowly 
made  their  a])pearanee,  "one;  and  two  .at  a  tinn'  thi'oiiuli- 
(Mit  the  day;  until  but  a  few  were  wsintinj^  to  mak(>  tin' 
iiiimlwr  coniplete.  Campbell  was  now  anxious  to  put  an 
end  to  this  fastim'  of  the  old  chief,  and  a'jain  declared  tli;it 
Ill'  was  jierfectly  satisfied.  Arapooish  demanded  what 
iiinnber  of  skin.s  were  yet  wanting.  On  \)v\u<^  told,  h'' 
whispered  to  some  of  liis  people,  who  disappeared.  After 
a  time  the  number  were  brou^dit  in,  though  it  was  evident 
they  were  not  any  of  the  skins  tliat  had  been  stolen,  but 
others  gleaned  in  the  village." 

Arapooish  then  broke  his  fast,  and  gave  his  guest  mneh 
wholcsonu!  advice,  charging  him  always,  when  he  \isited 
;i  (Vow  village  to  put  liims(>lf  and  his  goods  under  protec- 
tion of  the  chit'f  Of  Cami>beirs  conclusions  upon  the 
character  of  the  race,  Mr.  Irving  savs:  "  He  has  ever  since 
maintained  that  the  Crows  are  not  so  black  as  they  have 
hecn  j)ainte(b  'Trust  to  their  honor,'  says  he,  'and  you 
iire  .safe;  tru.st  to  their  houcstv,  and  thcv  will  steal  the 
hair  olFyour  head.'" 

The  manner  in  which  old  Arapooish.  enlarged  upon  the 
natural  advantages  of  the  Crow  country  in  conversation 
with  Mr.  Cam})bell  is  too  ([uaint  to  be  jkissciI  over.  He 
averred  that  it  \vas  located  in  ])reciscly  the  right  spot  for 
the  security  of  all  that  was  desirable  in  life,  and  the  avoid- 
itncc  of  its  usual  trials  and  wants.     lie  enlarged  upon  the 


1 

;l< 

1 
1 

■  i 

_ 

1 

1 

1 
i 

1 

9 


1* 


m 


1!, 

■H 

% 


p 


'  ^'W 


470 


11 


INDIAN  KACKS  OF  A.MKIUCA. 


cold  of  tlic  north,  wIilto  do'^s  must  l;il<t!  tlio  jilace  ofhor.^es; 
anduj)oii  tbebiirreuundtirid  plains  of  lliesoutli,  ivplctcvith 
pestiluntial  vapors.  At  the  west,  he  said,  "On  i\\r  (\>\\u\\- 
bia,  ihej  ai'e  p(Jor  and  diiiy,  jiaddle  about  in  eanties,  and 
eat  fish,  Tlieir  teeth  are  wuni  out;  they  ai'e  always  tak- 
ing lish-bones  out  of  their  mouths.     Fish  is  potji"  ibod. 

"'Jo  the  east,  thoy  dwell  in  villages;  they  live  well ;  but 
they  di'ink  the  muddy  water  of  the  Miss(juri — that  is  bad. 
A  Crow's  dog  would  not  di'ink  sueh  water. 

"  A'jout  the  forks  of  the  Missouri  is  a  fine  countiy ;  gwod 
water;  g(^od  gn^^s;  plenty  of  bulUilo.  In  snniiner  it  is 
almost  a.^  good  as  the  Crow  eountry;  but  in  winter  it  is 
cold;  the  grass  is  gone;  and  there  is  no  salt-weed  for  the 
horses." — {Bonncvillts  A duoifuns.) 

Then  followed  an  enthusiastic  enumeration  of  the  blt\ss- 
ings  enjoyed  by  the  Crows;  the  variety  of  climate;  the 
abundance  of  game;  the  winter  resources  for  man  and 
beast;  and  the  relief  from  the  heat  c^f  sununer  alTorded  by 
the  cool  breezes  and  fresh  sj)riiigs  of  the  mountains. 

In  a  former  cha})ter,  we  have  devoted  some  little  spat.-e 
to  illustrations,  from  Mr.  Catlin's  lettei's,  of  the  streuL^thnf 
parental  alfection  among  the  Western  Indians,  particularly 
the  Sioux:  in  the  work  last  cited  are  numerous  anecdntrs 
exemplifying,  in  a  manner  equally  forcible,  the  endin'ing 
and  powerful  attachment  ol'ten  noticeable  between  the 
sexes;  and  this  not  only  among  the  Indians  alone,  but 
where  they  have  interniari'ied  with  whites. 

One  of  these  instances  was  as  follows :  "  Among  the  fi'eo 
trappers  m  the  Kocky  Mountain  band  was  a  sj)irited  young 
Mexican,  named  Loretto;  who,  in  the  coui'se  of  his  wan- 
derings, had  r-insomed  a  beautiful  Blackfoot  girl  fi'oni  a 
band  of  Crows,  by  whom  she  had  been  ca}ttured.  I  le  made 
lier  his  wife,  after  the  Indian  style,  and  she  had  fidloweil 
his  fortunes  ever  since  with  the  most  devoted  all'ection." 

The  company,  one  day,  fell  in  with  a  numerous  party 


II 


TllIBKS  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


471 


of  Blackfoot  Avarriorp,  and  tlio  preliniina.ry  stops  wcro 
taken  for  a  parley,  and  for  smokinii;  tlio  ealumrt,  in  token 
i)f  peace.  At  this  moment,  lioretto's  Indian  wife  [HMX-eivt^d 
I'.cr  own  brtjtlier  amoM'j^  the  t>and.  "Leavinu;  lier  infa/it 
witii  TiOretto,  she  rnshed  forwai'd  and  threw  herself  upon 
licr  bi'other's  neck;  who  clasped  his  lon^dost  sister  to  his 
heart,  with  a  warmth  of  ad'eetion  hut  little  compatible  with 
the  repute(l  stoicism  of  the  savatrc." 

.Meanwhile,  Ih-idirer,  one  of  the  trap[)er  leaders,  ap- 
proach in, ir  the  I'lackfeet,  I'rom  an  inipnident  exce.-~  of 
caution,  cocked  his  rifle  just  as  he  came  up  with  them. 
The  Indian  chief,  who  was  in  the  act  of  prollerinii-  a 
friendly  salutation,  heard  the  click  of  the  lock,  and  all  his 
native  fury  and  suspicion  were;  instantly  aroused,  lie 
sprani^  upon  Bridger,  forced  tlie  nm/./le  of  the  rifle  into 
die  ;^:"rouud,  where  it  was  discharged,  knocked  him  down, 
seized  his  horse,  and  rode  off.  A  general,  but  disorderly- 
fight  ensued,  during  which  Loretto's  wife  was  hurried 
away  by  her  relations. 

^I'he  noble  young  Mexican  saw  her  in  their  power,  vainly 
entreating  permission  to  I'cturn,  and,  regardless  of  tlie 
danger  incurred,  at  once  hastened  to  her  side,  and  I'cstored 
the  child  to  its  mother.  The  Dhickfeet  b'l'aves  admired  his 
holdne.s<,  and  respected  the  confidence  which  he  had  re- 
jiosed  in  them  by  thus  venturing  in  their  midst,  but  they 
were  deaf  to  all  the  i)rayers  of  himself  and  his  wiie  that 
they  might  remain  together.  Ife  was  dismissed  unharmed, 
I'Ut  the  Woman  and  child  were  detained. 

^lot  many  months  afterwards  the  faithful  Loretto  pro- 
cmv(l  his  discharge  from  the  company  in  whoso  .service  he 
was  enlisted,  and  fblloweil  his  wife  to  her  own  couutry. 
A  hapj)y  reunion  took  plac<>,  and  the  loving  ]>air  took  uj) 
their  residence  at  a  tradingdiouse  among  the  Blackfeet, 
where  the  husband  served  jus  interpreter  between  the  In- 
chaiis  and  white  traders. 


II 


•'*M 


1^ 
If- 


II 


lrs(» 


I  ; 


'  ji 


|iif 


\ 


li:    .^:t 


fffHi™ 


172 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Aiiotlicr  tale  of  Indian  love  and  rivalry  is  that  of  a 
Black (oot  warrior,  named  Kosato,  residing  among  the 
Nez- Perec's  when  that  tribe  was  visited  ''V  P)onneville. 

lie  had  fallen  in  love  with  the  wife  of  a  chief  of  his  own 
tribe,  and  his  affection  was  returned.  According  to  his 
o\v!i  positive  asseverations,  although  they  "talked  togctii- 
cr — laughed  together — and  were  always  seeking  eacli 
othei-'s  society,"  they  were  "as  innocent  as  children." 

The  jealousy  of  the  husband  was  at  last  conijili'tdv 
aroused,  and  he  visited  his  vengeance  upon  both  the  oIU'ikI- 
ing  parties.  The  wife  was  cruelly  beaten,  and  sternly  lii^l 
not  even  to  bestow  a  look  upon  Kosato,  while  the  y(;inii 
himself  suffered  the  loss  of  all  his  horses,  upon  which  the 
chief  had  seized.  Maddened  with  love  and  revenu-o,  K<is- 
ato  waited  his  opportunity;  slew  the  objetit  of  his  hate; 
and  hastened  to  entreat  his  mistress  to  fly  with  him.  .\t 
first  she  only  wept  bitterl}-,  but  finally,  overcome  by  liis 
persuasions,  and  the  promptings  of  her  own  affection,  sin,' 
forsook  her  people,  and  sought,  with  her  lover,  an  asyluia 
among  the  peaceful  and  kindly  Nez-Perces. 

Kosato  was  foremost  in  rousing  u})  a  warlike  and  manly 
spirit  among  the  tribe  of  his  adoption,  but  he  found  tlie 
disposition  of  his  new  allies  Au'  dilferent  from  that  of  ti;o 
hot-blooded  Blackfeet  and  Crows.  "They  are  good  and 
kind,"  .said  he  to  Bonneville;  "they  are  honest;  but  tlicir 
hearts  ai-e  the  hearts  of  women." 

From  these  and  numberless  similar  tales,  it  is  sunu'ieiit'y 
evident  that  the  cloak  of  reserve  in  which  the  Indian  wr>ips 
himself  from  the  scrutiny  of  strangers,  covers  passions  and 
alfeetions  as  fiery  and  impetuous  as  are  to  be  witnessed  in 
more  demonstrative  races. 


TlilBlIS  WKtfT  UF  TilK  MJ.Sr>iS.Sirri.  473 


!  C  II  APT  Ell   V. 

TRinKS  ON  THE  COI.UMIHA   AM)  ITS  THIHI'TAHIKS — THK    NKZ-I'F.KCftS 

THKIK    T{i:i,I(iI(;i:S    CIIAHACTKK THK   \VA  I,LA-\VA  I.LAS THE 

'  CHINOOK'S .MODK    OT    KI.ATTKN  1  .N<i    THK    HKAD THK 

'  BOTOQUK — C'ANOKS    OK     TilK     TKIHKS     ON     THK 

LOWKR  W'ATKliS  OK  TlIK  (dl.K.MIilA KISH- 

j  I.\U HOl'SKS     OK   THK    K  l,AT-li  KA  US. 

Thk  principal  tribe  dwelling  williin  llic  vast  ainpitlioatre 
drained  by  the  Koosk(.)(jske,  westward  fVoiu  tlic  lilaekfoot 
couiitrv,  and  across  the  Kockv  Mountains,  is  tiiat  of  the 
Xe/.d'erci's  or  Pierccd-Nosc  Indians.  1^'ueeeding  down 
the  river,  wc  find  numerous  tribes,  known,  collectively,  as 
Klatdiea<ls,  although  the  ])hysical  peculiarity  from  which 
they  derive  their  name  is  by  no  means  universal. 

L^pon  the  main  southern  branch,  the  Lewis  Fork  of  the 
Columbia,  or  Snake  river,  dwell  the  Shoshonees,  or  Snake 
Indians,  a  race  })erha];)s  more  widely  dissemimited  than 
any  other  of  the  present  descendants  of  the  Xcjith  Ameri- 
can aborigines. 

The  Ne/i-Perces  are,  as  mentioned  in  a  jn'cecding  chap- 
ter,  a   cpiiet,    inoflensivc    ])Co|ile,    although,  when    fairly 

j  aroused,  they  are  not  wanting  in  courage  and  eiricieiicy. 
Their  susce})tibility  to  religious   inpivssions  is  remarkable, 

'  and  their  patient  reliance  u]i(jn  and  sincere  invocations  to 
the  Great  Spirit,  in  times  of  wan'i.  or  dangci',  might  shame 
the  most  euiiti'htened  naticjii. 

in  a  time  of  great  scarcity,  Captain  Pjonneville  fell  in 

1  with  a  i>arty  ofthe.se  Indians,  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  des- 
titution. They  were  subsisting  up(;ii  wild  rose-buds,  roots, 
;ni<l  otiuu"  crude  and  innutritions  fiod,  and  their  only 
weajion  was  a  single  spear.  ^Vith  this  they  linally  set  out, 
on  luTse-baek,  u[M)n  what  appearc(l  to  the  whit"s  an  ut- 
terly hopeless  expedition  in  search  of  game,     'i'li*.'}'  iode 


■'■ ,  ^. 


4 

1' 


i  H 


Ml'  ' 


^51'  ■  1. 
■^r  hi!  i 


^  -Iji 

11 ' 

. , '  '■' 

ii'f 

!' '  k. 

ik.     .: 

m 

1                1 

U  \ 


;  I* 


V  ^^ 


v.r 


ill! 


474 


INIdAN    IJACKS  OK  AM  KIMCA. 


ofT,  liowcver,  willi  clieerfiil  cwjiifidciicc  that  tlicir  pravers 
would  now  be  heard  by  tljc  Great  Spirit,  'i'he  uuder'tak- 
iiig  was  ,<u(;ee.ss(ul,  and  tlie  ]KKjr  Indians  freely  shared  the 
meat  whii'h  they  had  seeiux'd  among  the  hungry  whites. 

'i'hekiiuMiearted  captain,  fi-om  long  observation  ofihrir 
ehai'aeter,  beeamc  in(jre  and  more  enthusiastic  in  his  ad- 
liiiration  of  the  simplieity,  benevolence,  and  pietv  of  the 
tril)(>.  Some  rude  conceptions  jf  Christian  doctrines  and 
observances  had,  in  earlier  times,  been  dissendnated  among 
Ihem,  and  they  eagerly  listened  to  such  instruction  upon 
tliese  topics  as  Captain  IJonnevillc  was  enabled  to  convev. 
In  liis  own  words:  "Simply  to  cull  these  people  religiuus, 
would  convey  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  deej)  hue  of  pietv 
and  (bjvolion  which  i)ervades  their  whole  conduct.  Their 
honesty  is  immaculate,  and  their  purity  of  purpose,  and 
tlieir  observance  of  the  rites  of  their  religion,  are  must 
niiiform  and  remarkable.  They  are  certainly  jnore  like  a 
naticui  of  saints  than  a  horde  of  savages." 

'i'herc  ai'c  iwc  tribes  of  the  Pierced-Nose  Indians,  the 
upper  and  the  lower:  the  first  of  these  is  that  to  which 
jiartieular  allusion  lias  heretofore  been  made  in  connection 
with  l>lackfo(^t  hostilities.  The  Indians  of  the  lowertriho 
subsist  upon  fish,  and  upon  deer,  elk,  and  other  game  of 
tlieir  own  country. 

I'onneville  gives  them  almost  as  good  a  character  aa 
their  brethren,  the  upper  trib(>,  pronouncing  them  "one  of 
the  ])urestdicarted  i)eople  on  thv.  face  of  the  earth."  Other 
travellers  and  traders,  who,  jinjbably  in  cons(>quencc  of 
tlieir  own  unscrupulmis  viilany,  have  experienced  dif- 
ferent treatment  at  the  naiuLs  of  these  Indians,  raturally 
enough  set  them  down  as  dishonest  and  inhospitable.  As 
one  instance  of  their  generosuy  and  kind-heartedness:  the 
'.'aptain's  lun'se  was  re-"og,,ized  by  one  of  the  tribe  as  hav- 
ing formerly  been  stolen  from  himself.  He  proved  owner- 
shi])  inconte.stibly,  but  vt'huitarily  reliiuiuislicd  his  claim. 


._j 


V"'  'W"\ 


TUIIJEri  WEST  OF  THE  MlSSISSiri'I. 


475 


.siyiiig:  "You  got  liini  in  fair  tradc' — you  arc  more  in  want 
ui'liorses  than  I  am:  kcq)  liim;  lie  is  yours  —lie  is  a  \sood 
horse;  use  him  well." 

j-'urtlier  westward,  upuii  the  banks  of  the  Ctiliiiiiliia, 
bflow  the  mouth  of  the  f.ewis  Fork,  aie  Ibund  the  Walla- 
'Aallas;  the}'  are  not  unhke  the  I'icreed-Noses  in  gciici'al 
appeai'anee,  language,  and  habits,  'ihey  are  kind  lowards 
strangL'rs,  and  in  their  dejx.trtinent  exhibit  gre;it  dercncy 
;,iid  dtvorum.  The}'  liave  J'lenty  of  horses,  and  niaii.lain 
tiio  same  border  warfare  with  the  Shoslumct^'S  that  tln'ir 
iR'igid)ors  farther  u]>  the  rivrare  eonstantly  waging  with 
tiiclilaekfeet.  'J'he  eause  of  liostility  is  similar,  viz:  a  ckiiiii 
uf  right  of  hunting  within  the  hostile  territory;  in  tlu'  one 
ease,  fur  the  buffalo;   in  the  other,  for  the  blaek-taih'd  drer. 

l*assing  over  the  Spokans,  Cootonais,  Chaudieres,  ]\)int- 
td  Hearts,  kc,  ka.,  we  will  describe  a  little  more  at  large 
the  Chinojks,  Flatdieads  in  I'eality,  as  in  nanie,  who  durU 
about  the  lower  portions  of  the  Columbia.  'J'he  hoi-rible 
(Icibrniity  of  the  skull,  which  constitutes  their  cdiiof  jihys- 
iral  pL'euliarity,  is  pnxlueed  by  jircssure  upon  the  forclioad 
of  the  infant  wijile  the  bone  is  soft  and  pliable.  The  child 
is  stretched  upon  its  back,  after  the  usual  Indian  fashion, 
and  a  bit  of  bxird  or  bark  is  so  .secured  bv  strings  that  it 
call  be  tightened  at  pleasure,  creating  a  steady  })ressnrc 
until  the  head  is  so  flattened  that  a  straight  line  can  be 
drawn  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  unnatural  apex.  The 
operation  occu})ies  from  a  few  weeks  to  a  yeai',  or  mori'.  at 
the  end  of  which  time  the  skull  is  hai'dencd,  and  never 
tlit'ivafter  resumes  its  natural  shaj)e.  The  thickness  of  the 
broad  ridge  at  the  back  of  the  heail  is  little  over  an  inch. 

This  extensive  disjdacement  of  the  brain  does  lajt,  as  far 
as  travellers  have  observed,  effect  any  noticeable  (diange 
in  the  f; 'culties  of  the  mind.  It  is  an  unaecountablt.'  cns- 
tcn,  and  is  persbsted  in  as  being  an  impruvement  uji'Hi 
nature;  pcrluqis  from  the  same  ideal  that  suggested  the 


10 


i 

1 

'M 

i 

:*!' 

■ 

f  ■*i    >  , 

:S    !» 

*J    '     w 

i|§ . 

!i 

.  ' 

ii  ji 


476 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMElilCA. 


retreating  forehead  cliaracteristic  (jf  the  aiieiciit  sculpturi':; 
of'Kgypt  and  Central  Aineriea.  Varicjus  tribes  and  nations 
ot^^nieriea  were  formerly  in  the  hahit  of  flalteniii!.'-  the 
iiead,  who  have  long  since  ceased  so  to  mar  their  fair  [me 
portions.  Even  in  South  America,  as  we  shall  see  hen- 
after,  skulls  a^e  still  found  bearing  evident  marks  of  tlii;- 
hideous  distortion. 

Exclusive  of  the  head,  there  i.'  little  ])articularly  notice- 
able about  the  personal  apj)earance  of  the  Indians  of  iIk; 
lower  Columbia.  I'he  desci'iption  given  of  them,  paitiin- 
larly  of  their  women,  is  by  no  means  attractive.  It  woulil 
seem,  from  one  of  Mr.  Catlin's  illustratioii.-,  that  a  singular 
custom,  generally  considered  as  ])ec(diar  to  the  Bra/lliati 
r>ot(K'udos,  is  occasionally  observable  among  them.  He 
gives  a  sketch  of  a  woman  whose  underdip  is  jiierccd,  ami 
the  aperture  fdled  with  a  large  wooden  {)lug  or  button 
(termed  the  "botoque"  in  South  America). 

Their  most  successful  advance  in  the  arts,  is  seen  in  the 
manufacture  of  their  cantos.  Iliese,  accordimr  to  tlu' 
description  given  in  tlie  history  of  Lewis  and  Clarke's 
travels,  are  often  "upwards  of  fifty  leet  long,  and  will 
carry  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  jio'.mds  weight,  or  from 
twenty  to  thirty  persons.  *  *  They  are  cut  out  of  a 
single  trunk  of  a  tree,  which  is  generally  white  cedai; 
though  the  fir  is  sometimes  used.  '^  *  When  they  cm- 
bark,  one  Indian  sits  in  the  stern,  and  steers  with  a  paddle; 
the  others  kneel  in  pairs  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  and, 
sitting  on  their  heels,  paddle  over  the  gunwale  next  to 
thorn.  In  this  way  they  ride  with  perfect  safety  the  lii,L;li- 
est  waves,  and  venture  without  the  least  concern  in  .-^cas 
where  other  boats  and  seamen  could  not  live  an  instant. 
They  sit  quietly  and  paddle,  with  no  other  movement, 
except  when  any  large  wave  throws  the  boat  on  her  .«id", 
and  to  the  eye  of  the  .spectator  she  seems  lost:  the  nmn  to 
windward  then  steadies  her  by  throwing  his  body  towards 


r 


TinilES  WEST  OF  TlIK  MIriSlSSI  I'i'I. 


477 


the  nj^ju^r  r-ido,  and,  sinking liis  paddle  dccji  into  tlic  waves, 
apj)(':i''s  to  cateli  the  water,  and  foree  it  under  the  l)oat, 
whicii  the  same  stroke  j)ushes  on  with  great  v'eloeity.'' 

Till'''  subsist  prinei])ally  upon  fish,  in  taking  which 
thoy  a;  *  very  expert.  Their  Ufts  are  made  of  silk-grass, 
or  of  the  fibrous  bark  of  the  white  eedar,  as  are  also  the 
lilies  iiseil  for  angling.  The  hooks  are  pi'oeured  from  white 
traders,  but  in  earlier  times  were  manufaetured  from  bone. 
Their  houses  are  deseribed  as  large  and  eommodious:  some 
of  them  are  said  by  Cox  to  Ix^  "ujiwards  of  ninety  feet 
long,  and  thirty  to  forty  broad."  'i'he  size  of  the  beams 
used  in  the  eonstruetion  of  these  editiees,  as  well  as  that  of 
the  trunks  of  trees  worked  into  eanoes,  is  almost  ineredi- 
hlo,  eonsidering  the  miserable  tools  and  imj)lements  in 
tlicir  possession  previous  to  Euroj)ean  intereourse. 

Their  household  furniture  and  utensils  are  rude  and 
simple;  in  their  primitive  eondition  they  boiled  their  fish 
in  kettles  of  cedar  wood,  by  means  of  heated  stones  thrown 
into  the  water.  The  rire-place  is  a  hole  suidc  in  the  floor, 
to  the  de])tli  of  about  twelve  inehes,  under  the  aperture  in 
the  roof  left  for  tlie  escape  of  smoke. 


CIIAl'TKR  VI. 

THK  snoSHONKKS,  OR  SNAKE  INDIANS TIIK  SIIOSHOKOKS,  OH  ROOT- 

DIGGERS — EXTENT  OF  COUNTHY  OCCUI'lEO  BY  THE    SNAKES — THE 

CA.MANCHES  :   THEIR  HOKSEM  ANSIUP,  MODE  OF  LIFE,  DWELI.lNliS, 

ETC. THE  PAWNEE   I'lCTS — THE  NAIiAJOS   AND  MOqUKS. 

Under  various  names,  and  presenting  a  great  variety 
in  habits  and  a[*])earanee,  according  to  the  nature  of  the 
countr}'  they  inhabit,  the  great  race  of  Shoshonees  is  found 
scattered  over  tlic  boundless  wilderness,  from  Texas  to  the 


Ih. 


m 


^-7i 


478 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Coluinl)iii.  Tlifii-  territory  is  bouiidefl  on  tlio  iiortli  ;mm1 
west  by  tliiit  of  tlieir  hereditary  enemies,  the  Dliickll'd 
and  Crows,  the  tribes  rdlied  to  tlic  great  Dacotali  or  Sioux 
family,  and  the  Indians  removed  westward  from  tin; 
I'nited  States. 

Those  wlio  dwell  amid  the  I'uu-La'd  and  inhosjiit.ibM' 
^'  f^ions  of  the  great  Koeky  Mountain  eliain,  known  ;is  SIhk. 
,okocs  or  Koot-Diggers,  arc  the  most  destitute  and  niisci'- 
■  ■'  '  [)ortion  of  all  the  North  American  tribes.  '^I'liey  havo 
no  '  '  SOS,  and  nothing  birt  the  rudest  native  implements 
for  securing  game.  They  arc  harmless,  and  exceediiiiflv 
ti'iid  and  shy,  choosing  for  their  dwellings  the  most  n.- 
mote  and  unexplored  retreats  of  the  mountains,  whither 
they  fly  in  terror  at  the  approach  of  strangers,  whet  in 
whites  or  Indians.  "These  forlorn  beings,"  says  Ir\iii;_', 
"forming  a  mere  link  between  human  nature  and  tJio 
brute,  have  been  looked  down  u])on  with  [)itv  and  edu- 
tempt  by  the  Creole  trappers,  who  have  given  them  the 
a}:)pellation  of  ^lea  dirjnes  de  ^j/Zie,'  or  'the  objects  of  pi'y.' 
I'hcy  appear  more  worthy  to  be  called  the  wild-men  of 
the  mountains." 

Althouuh  living  in  a  climate  where  thev  exin-riiMi'-e 
great  severity  of  cold,  these  miserable  peoi)le  are  very 
insufliciently  protected  either  by  clothing  or  comfortaMo 
huts.  Of  a  jnii'ty  seen  by  Bonneville  ujion  the  })lain  he- 
low  Powder  Kiver,  that  traveller  remarks:  "They  liv(.' 
without  any  fuithcr  protection  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
s(>ason,  than  a  sort  of  break- weather,  about  three  feet  liigli, 
com})oscd  of  sage,  (or  wormwood,)  ai'.d  erected  aroujul 
them  i'.i  the  shape  of  a  half-moon."  This  material  al>r» 
furnishes  them  with  fuel.  Many  were  seen  carrying  about 
with  them  a  slow  match,  made  of  twisted  bark.  "  When- 
ever they  wished  to  warm  themselves,  they  Avould  gather 
together  a  little  wormwood,  apply  the  match,  and  in  an 
instant  produce  a  cheering  blaze." 


''    l! 


=rii 


10  most  n- 

IIS,   wllitlltT 


expcricn''P   i 
e  arc  very    '1 
'oinfortaMe    .1 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  M  I.S.-^ISSI  IM'l. 


479 


Tiieyliv'c  principally,  as  tlicir  iiatnc  implies,  iijmhi  roots 
and  a  prej^aratioii  of  certain  wiUl  seeds;  l)utl)y  the  aid  of 
llieir  do'fs — a  lean  and  miserable  breed— they  catch  labbits 
and  other  small  animals.  They  oecasioindly  tak'e  ante- 
lopes by  the  following,'  sin^nlar  eoiitrivaiuH* 


An  i 


liclo- 


-ure 


of 


.several  acres  m  extent  is  lonncd  by  pilmu,'  nj)  a 
w  of  n'ormwood  bi'ush,  onl\'  al)i>iit  thi'ee  feet   in  heii^ht. 


Into  this  :lie  <;ame  is  d 


eeoviM 


I  or  d 


iiN'eii  an* 


I  t: 


le  enti'ane(! 


jlosed.     'J'hc  men  then  ])ni'sne  the  animals  on  foot,  I'onnd 


aiM 


id 


I'cjimu  the conimed  space,  (Iresli  recrnits  enterni'^'  npi>n 


the  ( 


bitv  as  the  first  1 


jcconie  wearv  .  nn 


til   th 


an 


letely  tired  down,  and  can  be  killed  witl 
telopcs  never  attemj)t  to  leap  over  tlu>  f 


1  '•i;;;)< 


I'oni- 
The 


rail 


•1  !C 


nose  r 


lokoes  \\ 


ho  li 


ve  in  till'  viciii 


•  Id  to  their  siip])lii'S  by  lishinij',   and  some  ol 
nnieicntly  skilful  and  pro\'iiU'nt  to  vnvc  s'      •.-; 


.)t    streams, 
ill.  )n  are 


r 


1  lor 


winter 


but 


m  u"en<'ral  the  season  ot  scarcuv  iiiids  them 


itute 


:i\'s  l)(in- 
:sary 


wix'tchedly  unprovidiMl.     '■  They  were  dest 
iicville,  of  a  party  eneountcred  l>v  him,  ''of  the  ik 
I'ovei'ing  to  protect  them  from  the  weather;   and  se'emed 
to  be  in  unsoi)liisticated  i,L!,'n  oral  ice  of  any  other  propriety 


lie  old  I  lame 


ir  advantaL''e  in  the  nse  of  clothiim'.     Oi 
ilisulutely  nothing"  on  her  person  but  a  tlwead   1 


d 


let 


Ic,  f 


ne 


roin  w 
Shosl 
tli 


hicl 


I  was  pern 


dant 


;i  solitarv 


tl 


bead. 


lonees,   as    disliiiet   Irom 
dit 


k; 


Ivoo 


(JUl! 


t-Di 


iier 


;'er: 


iiliioug'h  their  condition  \-anes  u'reatly  with  tneir  loealitv, 
a  free,  l)old,  and  wanderiiiu'  I'ace  of  hnntci's.     In  the 


arc 


Ifalo  plains  their  life  is  n 


mieh   like   that 


tlu 


Mon: 


lilackfeet,  Crows,  kv..:   while  in  the  less  favored  distriets 


imoin!:  the   mountains  am 


I   d 


cserts,  ti. 
Tl 


)roacli  more 


\oes. 


'V  aj^j) 


le  cormtrv  inhabit 


nearly  to  their  kindred  Shoshol 
od  by  them  is  of  such  vast  extent,  and  has  been  so  imjiei'- 
foctly  explored,  that  material  f(^r  accurate  classilication  of 
the  Snake  tribes  is  entirely  wantinj^.  Very  interest im^ 
descriptions  and   anecdotes  of  these  Indians   are  to  bo 


^i\'4. 


M 


i'*i 


If* 


:^\^- 


;  * 

if 


|i:| 


,11 


i 


:;l 


J"- 


m 


iiii 


if 


.  r'^- 


\i 


ir  1 


ii 


480 


IXlJlAX  RACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


'build  ill  ('tilcjiiol  I'Vt'iuoiil's  notes  of  travel  jiud  cxjilora 
tioiis;  ill    Mr.  Sclioolcrul'l's  valuable   conipeiid   of  liidiaii 
iiistoi'ical  and  statistical  iiili>riiiati<)ii ;  and  iu  the  entertain 
iii;j,'  adviMituies  of  Caj.'tain  Jionneville. 

'J'lie  whole  I'cgioii  tenanted  by  tiie  roving  tribes  who  are 
ineluded  under  the  general  title  of  Snakes,  is  thus  laid 
down  in  SehooleraCt's  above-mentioned  publieation  :  cxelu« 
sive  of  those  residing  upon  the  Snake  river,  "they  em- 
braee  all  the  teri'itory  of  tiie  Great  South  Pass,  between 
the  Mississij»i)i  valk'v  and  the  waters  of  the  Columbia,  by 
whleh  the  land  <jr  earavau  eommunieation  with  Oregon 
and  (.'alifornia  is  innv,  or  is  destined  hereafter,  to  be  inuin- 
taiiuMl.  *  ■•'■  Under  the  name  of  Vampatiek-ara,  or  Root- 
l^atei's,  and  Uoiiael^s,  tiuy  oeeuin',  with  the  Utahs,  the  vast 
elevated  basin  of  the  (ireat  Salt  Lake,  extending  south 
and  west  to  the  borders  of  New  Mexico  and  California. 
lnf(jrniatiou  recently  received  denotes  that  the  language 
is  s})oken  by  bands  in  the  gold-mine  region  of  the 
Sacramento." 

The  most  noted  branch  of  the  whole  family  is  that  of  the 
Camanches,  "wdiohave  descended  eastwardly  into  the  Tex- 
an })lains  at  unknown  periods  of  their  history."  Analogy 
in  language  is  all  tliat  attests  the  former  unity  of  this 
nation  with  the  Shoshonees. 

'Jlic  Camanches  inhabit  a  country  where  bisons  and 
wild  horses  abound,  and  their  general  habits  and  mode  of 
life  are  conse(iuently  very  similar  to  those  of  the  western 
Sioux  and  other  r;;ces  of  the  prairies.  As  bold  and  skill- 
ful j'idens,  they  are  said  to  have  no  ccpials,  at  least  in  iSortli 
America;  some  of  their  feats  of  hor.semanship  ajjpear 
almost  su})crnatural  to  a  stranger.  One  of  the  most  sin- 
gular of  these  is  that  of  throwing  the  wdiolc  body  uj)on 
one  side  of  the  horse,  so  as  to  be  entirely  shielded  from 
the  missile  of  an  enemy,  with  the  exception  of  the  heel,  by 
which  they  still  maintain  their  hold,  and  arc  enabled  tt 


'ml^t^. 


l^¥ 


1 

. 

'  r 

'  'vm 

jii  • 

! 

i 

It 

J 

1 

<*' 

'% 

IK 

i 
1 

f 

|i 

'  '  *' 

1 

:  .i"^ 

ii. 

■      ' 

'(«:■!! 


i 


4m 


'  'Ik'  1 

mtim 

H" 

•  1  ^9^1^ 

!  f 


TKIUKS  WEST  OF  THE  MlSSISSIPri. 


481 


regain  tlioir  seat  in  an  instant.  Tlip  manner  in  wliich  tlii.s 
gotnningly  inipossildi;  position  is  rcfainctl,  w;us  asci'i'taincil 
by  Mr.  ("atlin  to  lie  as  lollows:  "I  louiul,"  says  he,  "on 
(.'xainination,  that  a  short  hair  lialter  was  j)asse(l  aroiin«l 
uii'ler  tlie  neck  of  the  horse,  ami  both  eiuls  tightly  bi'aidcil 
into  the  mane,  on  the  withers,  leaving  a  loop  to  hang  un- 
drr  the  neck',  and  against  the  breast,  whieli,  being  eanght 
up  in  the  hand,  makes  a  sling  into  which  the  elbow  falls, 
tiiking  the  weight  oC  the  body  on  tin-  nnddh;  of  the  ujii>er 
jirui.  Into  this  loo])  thi;  rider  drops  suddenly  and  lear- 
Icssly,  leaving  his  heel  to  hang  over  the  back  of  the  horse, 
l>  steady  him,  and  also  to  restore  him  when  he  wishes  to 
iVLfain  his  upright  j)osition  on  the  horse's  back." 

The  Indian  rider,  as  he  sweeps,  at  full  sjieed,  past  his 
eiiciny,  in  this  unnatural  attitude,  is  said  to  manage  his 
long  lance,  and  his  bow  and  arrow,  with  nearly  the  same 
facility  as  if  fairly  mounted.  He  will  discharge  his  arrow 
over  the  ba(;k  of  the  horse,  or  even  his  neck!  The  Ca- 
niunchcs,  from  constant  horse-back  exercise,  have  lost  that 
airilitv  and  grace  which  characiterizc  th<^  Xorth  American 
Indian,  in  his  natural  state.  They  are  awkward  and  un- 
jriiinly  in  their  movements  when  on  foot,  but  when  mounted 
ujKju  the  ainmals  that  have  become  almost  a  partof  them- 
.^^■Ives,  nothing  can  exceed  the  lightness  and  freedom  of 
their  j)osture  and  movements.  The  wild  horses  are  taken, 
us  usual,  by  the  lasso,  and  are  at  lii'st  disabled  by  being 
"choked  down,"  as  it  is  termed.  AVlien  the  hunter  has 
thus  conquered  and  enfeebled  his  prize,  he  proceeds  to  tie 
hi.--  fore  feet  together,  and,  loosening  the  noose  about  his 
\mk,  takes  a  turn  with  it  about  the  lower  jaw,  and  com- 
jiletes  the  subjection  of  the  animal  by  closing  his  eyes 
with  his  hand  and  breathing  in  his  nostrils.  After  thi.s,  little 
(lidiculty  is  experienced;  the  horse  submits  to  be  mounted, 
and  is  soon  entirely  under  the  control  of  his  tormentor. 
The  Indians  are  severe  and  cruel  riders,  and  the  case  of 


31 


—  — i 


'  m  ■ '- 


>     4 


I  ,        'I  ) 


^   1= 

t  ■ 

Mm 

ll 

if 

PI 

! 

PI' 

fi 

%M 

1 

'>   ,!M 


M 


482 


INDIAN   RACES   OF   AMKIilCA. 


5up})lying  the  loss  of  a  horse  ])rcvciits  tliat  regard  fur  liis 
safety  and  eare  for  his  welfare  elsewhere  furnished  by  self- 
interest. 

1'he  Cainanehes  are  essentially  a  warlike  I'aec,  and  the 
whole  history  of  the  settleniciit  and  oc.'eujiaticn  of  Texas 
is  ivplete  with  tales  of  their  eoura^e  and  ])r()wess.  Thric 
seems  to  be  reason  to  fear  that  difTieulties  will  still  con- 
tinue to  ;ii-is<>  between  them  and  the  white  settlers  of  the 
eounlry  until  the  whole  tribe,  like  so  many  in  the  oIiI.t 
states,  shall  be  driv(Mi  from  their  tei'ritory  or  exterminated. 
Almost  the  only  man  win:)  has  evm-  been  able  to  eninni.uid 
their  enduring  admii'ation  and  resjieet,  and  to  exeicis  •  ;i 
parental  eetnti'ol  over  these  wiM  rovers  of  the  west,  is  the 
redoubted  ehanipion  of  Texan  imlepeiideiiee,  (ien(MaI 
Houston.  Numberless  tales  ai'e  told  of  the  inlluenee  ef 
jiis  presence,  or  even  his  name,  in  (piieting  bonier  ti'on.- 
bles  betw(H,'n  whites  and  Indians.  No  one  l.'nows  the 
CamaTiclics  better  than  Houston,  and  he  gi\-es  abimdaiit 
testimony  to  many  excellent  traits  in  their  ehai'aeiii'. 
According  to  his  re{)resentations,  the  generalitv  of  i!i>- 
turbanc<>s  which  have  arisen  ujion  tlieir  bordci's  are  aitrih- 
utable  rather  to  iinustice  and  violcnci',  on  the  tKirl  "f 
the  white  settlers,  than  to  the  iuili\e  ferocity  or  trcacheiv 
of  the  Imlians. 

Tlu^  dwellings  of  the  Camanches,  like  tiM)se  of  othtf 
ju'airie  ti'ibes,  consist  of  tents  of  bullhlo-skins,  and  are' 
transpoi'tcd  (i-om  ]ilace  to  place  in  the  mannei-  desei-ili'd 
in  a  fornuM-  chaptiM'.  The  tribe  next  adjoining  them,  the 
Pawnee  Piets,  living  about  the  exti-eme  head-waters  of  ihe 
l?ed  Kivei-,  oi)  till'  1)orders  of  the  Kocky  .\rouiitains,  in- 
habit v.dgwams  of  ]>oles  thittchetl  with  prairie-grass,  ef 
very  ])icturesq\u^  form  and  arrangement.  These  people 
are  said  to  l)e  entirely  distinct  from  the  Pawnees  on  the 
I'*latte  river;  th(\v  are  in  a  state  of  friendly  alliance  with  the 
Camanches.     Unlike  the  latter  tribe,  thev  cultivate  largo 


TRIBES  WEST  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


48.3 


(jiuintitics  of  maize,  bcuns,  pumpkins,  &c.,  and,  what  with 
their  abundant  supply  of  game,  enjoy  no  little  prosperity. 


In  New  Mexico,  besides  the  Utahs,  Apaches,  and  other 
Indian  tribes  heretofore  mentioned,  arc  two  very  singular 
communities:  the  Nabajos  and  Moques.  The  first  of  these 
lead  a  pastoral  life  between  the  rivers  San  Juan  and  Gila. 
They  are  spoken  of  in  a  communication  of  Governor 
Charles  Bent,  in  1846,  as  "an  industrious,  intelligent,  and 
warlike  tribe  of  Indians,  who  cultivate  the  soil,  and  raise 
.^ullicient  grain  and  fruits  of  various  kinds  for  their  own 
c<)iisiim{)tion.  They  are  the  owners  of  large  flocks  and 
herds  of  cattle,  sheep,  horses,  mules,  ond  asses.  It  is 
0,-liinated,  that  the  tribe  possesses  oO,000  head  of  horned 
cattle,  500,000  head  of  sheep,  and  10,000  head  of  horses, 
iimk'S,  and  asses.  *  *  They  tnanufacture  excellent  coarse 
hhiiikets,  and  coarse  woolen  goods  for  wearing  ap[)arel. 
"  *  *  They  have  in  their  possession  many  men,  women, 
and  children,  taken  from  the  settlements  of  this  territory, 
whom  Jiey  hold  and  treat  iis  slaves.  *  *  The  Moques 
are  neighbours  of  the  Nabajos,  and  live  in  jicrmanent  vil- 
hi^^'s,  cultivate  grain  and  fruits,  and  raise  all  the  varieties 
ul'  stock." — [Sch<iokr<ift\i  llishirical  and  Statistical  In/or  ma- 
ti'/n  concerning  the  Indian  7Vihes). 

The  Xabajos  number  from  seven  to  fourteen  thousand 
i*ouls;  the  Aloques  between  two  and  three  thousand,  ^fhc 
two  tribes  are  at  enmity  with  each  other,  and  the  M<.tques 
have  been,  by  this  cause,  much  reduced. 

The  following  description  of  the  personal  appearance 
uf  these  Indians,  (their  nan)es  being  corrupted  into  "Nab- 
behoes,"  and  "Mawkeys,")  is  cited  by  Mclnto.sh,  in  liis 
"Origin  of  the  North  American  Indians,"  from  t'e  West- 
orn  Democrat:  we  cannot  undertake  to  vouch  ;  its  aecu- 
lacy.     After  describing  the  location  of  the  smaller  tribes, 


f 


it.' 


!if' 


|i 


484 


INDIAN   RACES   OF  AMEUICA. 


the  article  proceeds:  "Not  fur  distant  from  the  ^fawkoys, 
and  in  the  same  range  of  country,  is  another  !;;uul  of  the 
same  description,  called  Nabbehocs,  a  description  of  citlier 
of  these  tribes,  will  answer  for  both.  They  have  been 
described  to  the  writer  by  two  men  in  whose  veracity  tlie 
fullest  confidence  may  be  placed:  they  say  the  men  :nv 
of  the  common  stature,  with  light  fhixcn  hair,  liglit-bluc 
eyes,  and  that  their  skin  is  of  the  most  delicate  whiteness." 


Nf-< 


INDIAN    POPULATION 


05ITEU  STATES  AND  TERRITORY. 


AccouDiXG  to  the  census  taken,  under  the  agency  of 
Mr.  Henry  K.  Schoolcraft,  in  pursuance  of  the  act  of  Con- 
gress passed  in  ^farch,  1847,  the  following  returns  were 
made  of  the  numbers  of  the  Indian  tribes  subject  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States, 

The  grand  total  w:i3  set  down  at  388,229,  and  about 
30,000  more  was  considered  a  j)robable  estimate  of  tribes 
inhabiting  districts  yet  unexplored.  The  "Ultimate  Con- 
solidated Tables  of  the  Indian  Population  of  the  United 
States,"  containing  the  results  of  tin;  proposed  investiga- 
tion, are  given  substantially  as  follows,  in  Schoolcraft's 
"History,  Condition,  and  Prospects  of  the  Indian  Tribes 
of  the  United  States:" 

1.  "Tribes  whose  vital  and  industrial  statistics  have  been  taken 
by  Bands  and  Familit's,  under  the  direction  of  the  act  of 
Congress,"  including,'  Iroquois,  Algonquins,  Appalachians,  and 
Eastern  Sioux, 34,704 

2.  "Tribes  of  the  new  States  and  Territorieh,  South  and  West, 
including  the  acquiMtions  from  Mexico,  under  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo,"  viz :  o<'  Texas,  New  Mexico,  California, 
Oregon,  Utah,  and  Florida,  and  consisting  of  Camanches, 
Apaches,  Utahs,  Shoshoneett  or  Snake  Indians,  &,c.  .     .     .   183,043 


Mf   1 

1*1 
1 

4 

■1              '                              r                           '. 

■:  i  ■  i 

i'     '    ::  ,  ' 

1 1,..: ' 


••n 


mi  i: 


■r!ri 


486 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


3.  Tribes  between  the  Mississippi  and  tlic  Rocky  Mountiiins,  to  the 
northward  of  Texna  and  New  Mcxijo,  viz : 


AsuinHboins,  south  of  lat.  49  (leg 
ArripnhoKR,      .... 
Absarukes,  or  Crows, 
Aiirickareus,    .... 

DInckrenL, 

KIihkI  Indians  (fcu)  rtach  the  JMistourf)  500   Urnuhas, 
Itrotherlons,        .... 
Cliurokees,       .... 

Creeks, 

Cliickasaws,     .... 

Clioctnws, 

Chcycnnps,      .... 


1,000,  Miainien, 500 

a.-VX)!  Minsoiiris, SiKJ 

4,000 1  Munsuea,  .                         ...  -Jijo 

1,500  j  Otluwau,  wes% 300 

13,000  JOtoes,       ....  500 

.  2,000 

600  j  Ogelluhs,          ....  1,5(J0 

26,000  '  Puwnt'os,      ....                .  IT.lXH) 

25,000  j  Poncas, 7iH) 

5,000  JPottawatutnies, VAm 


16,000    Peorias, 

2,500   Piaiikoshaws, 

Ouldoes, 2,000   Qimppiis, 

ChippewaSiWest, and  Rod  River,  north,  1,500  j  Hhawaneus, 

Ciiyugas  and  Iruiiuois,  west,       .        .         30  ;  Hioux  uf  the  Misrissippi  (not  enuine- 


Oclawares, 
Kox(!S  and  Sacs, 
(iros  Veutros,  . 
Kiowas, 
Kickapuos, 
Kunzas, 
Knskaxklas,     . 
MtMKimonius, 
■lundans,  (?)    . 
Mini!arec8,  . 


1,500 
2,400 
3,000 
2,000 


rated  in  No. '  ,    , 
Siouxof  the  V'  wi;ri  (notenumeralod 

in  No,  1  , 
Stockbridii  f,  .... 


WOiSeminwI.ft, 

1,0(>'J    l^'win  Cri'<!k  at' J  Miaik  River  Chippe- 

rXK)  wa."  (jii)i  till  iriiurated  in  the  Algun 
2/WK)  j     (jiiin  g'oiiii-  .... 

aoOJTotiuis,         ,  .... 

8,500  iV  <!f,       .....        . 


150 

400 
l,tW) 

9,000 

5,.VW 
4(H) 


200 

3,000 

250 


Within  the  old  States  are  the  follow  ing  remiiuila  of  ancient  tribes: 


Maine,    .       .  .       .        .       . 

Massnchuse'ts,   ,  . 

Bhod^^  '■*!aiid--N';vr»Ag.in!K?lir, 
Connecticut— Mohi.\.!tni», 
New  York—Besides  the  Iioquols,  be- 
ftire  enumerateil,        .       .        .       . 


950    Virginia— NottowayR,  mixeu  with  the 


847 
420 


African  ruca,  . 
South  Caro'ini.-Catawbas, 


40 
.    200 

400  j  North  CurMina-CaUiwIias,        .        .       250 
j  Ti>^(tther  with  CLtirokees  Included  in  rurnier 
40 1     table. 


SOUTH    AMERICA. 


TRliiES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES, 

'I       AND  THE  NORTHERX  PROVINCES  OF  SOUTH   AMERICA 


CHAPTER    I. 

INDIANS    FIHST    SEEN     BY    rni,rMm:S LANDINc;    AT    (iTANAHAM  — 

NATIVES  OF  CUBA EMBASSY  TO  THE  (JKANI)  KHAn! DISCOVERY 

OF   HAVTI,  AND    INTEHCOCRSE   WITH  THE    NATIVES (illAC.IXA. 

UAKI WUECK    OF    THE    ADMIRAI/S    VESSKI, IIONKSTV   AND 

HOSIMTAI.ITY   OF   THE    NATIVE    INHAHITANTS TKADE   FOR 

GOLD HUII.DING    OF    THE     FORTRESS    OF    LA    NAVIDAD 

—  DKI'ARTURE  OF  THE    NINA THE  CKil'AVANS DIS- 

ORDERS  AND    DEhTRI'CTIoN    OF  THE    (iARRISON   AT 
LA    NAVIDAD — FORT    OF    ST.    THOMAS. 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  the  New  AVorlil  bv 
Columbus,  the  larger  West  India  islands  and  tlu;  Baha- 
mas were,  for  the  most  part,  inhiabited  by  a  kindly  i  nd 
sim|)le-hcarte<l  race.  Altht)ngh  living  in  the  most  ])rim- 
itivc  state  of  nature,  unclothed,  and  possess^'  f  only  tlr;' 
rudest  weapons  and  implements,  tln^y  do  a])pcar  to 

have  been  deficient  in  intellectual  capacity.  The  delight- 
ful climate  of  their  country,  and  the  spont  .^oius  fruitful- 
rioss  of  the  soil,  removed  the  ordinary  inc  ntives  to  labor 
and  ingenuity.  The  rudest  huts  of  bra  lies,  reeds,  and 
paliu-leaf  thatch,  with  hammocks  (originally  tlie  Indian 
word  "hamacs")  slung  between  the  posts,  fully  sufllccd 
for  lh(Mr  dwellings.  Protection  from  the  rain  was  alono 
necessarv. 


I 


I ;  '  ,)til, 

I   l|'  ' 

*V] 

\ 

1    5 

'h 

1 '; 

Iv  1 

i!     ' 

•  •  i'^  i' 

i' 

•■I'tr 

^ 

L 

n    , 

f 

1^ 


^i 


\f' 


k  : 


1 

fit 

1  rf  'S 

Mm 

i|p|  n 

Hi 

\.ti   IE 

lHAdB 

i,;l'f 

HI 

f  ■  .•  »i 

'Ml. 

/  '    w) 

iWi. 

i|5'. 


<    i 


iij,,' 


"!;l;;i 


488 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AME14ICA. 


They  were  of  good  figure  and  ]iroportion,  tli'-ir  f  jrt'licuJ.s 
wd'i'  liigh  and  well  formed,  and  the  general  cast  tjf  their 
et'Uiitcnance  anrl  cunfunnation  uf  their  features  agreeublo 
and  reguhir. 

The  great  admiral  landed,  fur  the  iir.-t  time  since  the 
days  of  "the  Xorthinen"  that  any  JMiro])eau  had  visited 
tlie  Western  World,  at  Guanahani,  San  Salvador,  or  Cat 
Island,  on  the  12th  of  (October,  il'JJ.  'J'ho  sliore  was 
lined  with  naked  savages,  who  lied  at  tlie  approai'h  of  tlie 
boats;  but  watching  from  a  distance  the  incomprehensible 
ceremony  of  taking  possession,  and  the  religions  exereisus 
of  thanksgiving,  i)erformed  by  the  strangers,  fear  soi.u 
gave  place  to  reverential  curiosity.  Jl'  any  thing  couM 
excite  their  wonder  in  a  higher  degree  than  tlie  niaje>;ie 
ap})roach  of  the  shi])s,  it  might  well  be  the  splendor  of 
the  Spanish  dress  ai  '  arms,  the  strange  complexion,  and 
the  thick  beards  of  the  strangers  who  arrived  in  them. 
The  Indians  soon  began  to  gather  round  the  little  band, 
throwing  themsci'.  es  upon  the  earth  in  token  of  snbmi,- 
sion  and  respect,  and  worshi])ping  the  Spaniards  as  gwls 
or  divine  messengers.  As  nolliing  but  kindness  appcar.il 
in  the  demeanor  of  the  strangers,  the  natives  grew  ninro 
familiar,  and,  with  unbounded  admiration,  touched  and 
examined  their  dress  and  beards. 

Col\unbus  still  further  won  the  good-will  of  the  islaml- 
ers  by  a  judicious  distribution  of  such  brilliant  beads  ami 
toys  as  ever  attract  the  eye  of  the  savage.  >.othiiig  ilc- 
lighted  them  so  much  as  hawks'-bells,  of  whose  pleasant 
tinkling,  when  suspended  from  their  arms  and  necks,  tluy 
were  never  weary.  The  next  day.  laying  aside  all  f 'ar, 
the  Indians  came  out  to  the  shi])s,  swinnning  in-  })ad'liiiiu' 
in  their  canoes.  They  brought  such  little  articles  of  trado 
as  they  po.^S''ssed;  IkiHs  of  cotton  yarn,  parrots,  ami  cas- 
sava bread  (made  from  the  yuca  root);  eager  to  ti'aliii'. 
upon  any  terms,  for  European  connnoditics.     Golden  orna- 


I 


11 


foivlicuil.s 

>t  ut'  ihi'ir 

agrceublc 

since  lilt; 
;id  visited 
DP,  or  Cat 
sliorc  Was 
K'li  of  tiie 
reht'iisililtj 
>  cxLTcises 
four  Sddii 
iiig  coiiM 
e  inaji.'>;ic 
ileiuldr  ot' 
'xioii,  and 

ill   tiiriil. 

ttlc  band, 
f  suluiii.->- 
Is  as  guds 
1  appealed 
H'L'W  liinro 
iched  and 


;ie  island- 
toads  and 
thing  de- 
I  jileaijant 
L'cks,  tin  V 
L'  all  li'ar, 

{taddlinLT 
s  oi'  li'ai.lo 

and  cas- 
ti.)  traliii'. 
den  orna- 


^ 


\4^ 


,<'  I 


-«!'!'   4- 


i 


I   //His  /  (/  /■  //  /.;  H     (   (I  /.  I'  M  II  (IS. 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


469 


monts  worn  in  tlic  noses  of  some  of  tliciii  at  once  rirouscd 
tlie  cupidity  of  the  Spaniards,  who  ea^t'i'ly  bought  thciu 
(ij),  and  UKulti  inquiry,  by  signs,  as  to  whence  the  material 
was  hn)ught.     This  was  cxplainecl  to  be  lit  the  southward. 

ill  his  further  cruise  aiuoug  thf  lialiamas,  in  the  vain 
si'ai'ch  for  gold,  Cobiml)Us  pursin-d  tlic  most  humane  and 
L't'iitle  policy  towards  the  natives,  and  their  gratitude  and 
(li'light  at  his  caresses  and  jiresents  knew  no  bounds. 
Kipially  generous,  th'-y  were  ever  ready  to  prolfer  to  tin; 
Spaniards  all  their  little  wealth  of  eettoii,  fru'ts,  and  tame 
pari'uls.  Seven  of  the  natives  of  <  iuaiiahani  weiv  lal<t'n 
on  board  tlic  vessels  n})on  the  depaiiure  from  tiiat  island. 

'flie  admiral  had  no  doubi  but  that  he  ii;id  reiu'lied  the 
islands  of  the  Asiatic  coast,  and,  in  aeeoi'daiiee  with  this 
mistake,  bestowed  the  e[)ithet  of  linlians  uj)oii  the  inhab- 
itants.    As  he  came  in  sight  of  Cuba,  he  supposed  that  he 

d  at  last  readied  Cipang(x      'J'his  opinion  was  linally 


IKHI 


(.'hanged,  from  a  misaj)pi'chensioii  of  communieations  from 
the  natives  on  board,  to  a  lirm  belief  that  this  w:is  the 
main  land  of  the  continent  of  Asia,  an  error  of  whieh 
Columbus  was  never  (Visabused. 

The  inhabitants  appeared  rather  more  advanced  in  the 
arts  than  tliose  before  seen,  but,  to  the  intense  (bsappoint- 
ment  of  all  on  board  the  vessels,  none  of  them  were  pos- 
sessed of  any  gold  Two  embassa(h)rs  were  sent  by 
Columbus  to  explore  the  iiiteri«jr,  and  to  visit  the  court  of 
the  prince  of  ilic  countiy,  whom  his  imagination  led  him 
to  conclude  nmst  be  none  otliei'  than  the  (jirand  Khan  I  .V 
rude  Indian  villaire,  of  about  one  thousand  inhabitants, 
naked  savages,  like  those  of  the  coast,  v;as  all  diat  was 
discovered  by  these  emissaries.  They  were  received  anil 
entertained  with  the  greatest  kiinbiess  and  reverence,  bui 
were  unable  to  communicate  with  the  natives  otherwise 
than  by  signs.  The  most  interesting  report  made  by  them 
upon  their  return,  was  of  a  custom  tlicn  unknown  to  the 


1 

y 

f 

i!" 


I     i 


1.1      J 


II 


1 

J' 

f 


■i  -< 


r 


490 


INDIAN   RACKS  OF  AMKUIL'A. 


^vllit('S,  viz:  tliat  <jf  sni(;kiii^.  I'lic  ruitricof  tohacco,  giver. 
by  llxi  iiiitivcs  to  tin;  cigiirs  which  they  usud,  was  ever 
afliM'  ii]>j)li{'(l  to  the  |>lant. 

l'"i'()m  (!ui)a,  (,\)liiml)us  took  srvoral  Ttidianf,  men  uikI 
uoiiKMi,  on  board,  at  liis  departure,  that  tliey  iiii;jht  hu 
taiiuht  Spanish,  and  thereafter  sfi've  as  interprefcis.  In 
])cccnd)er,  lio  discovered  the  island  of  Ilayti,  naiiic(l  l,v 
him  IIisj)aniohi,  and  hmding  on  the  12th  of  the  month. 
lu!  raised  a  cross  in  token  of  taking  possession.  AW  the 
inliabitants  liad  fled  into  the  iiiterit)r;  but  a  y(ning  feniali- 
was  taken  liy  some  roving  sailoi-s,  and  brought  on  bo.nil. 
She  was  sent  on  shore  with  abundant  presents  of  ornaineiif.s 
and  clothing,  to  give  a  favorable  report  of  tlu;  whites  to 
her  own  pcojtle.  Next  day  a  l>arty  was  sent  to  visit  the 
Jndian  town  ujton  the  baidc  of  the  liivcr  of  three  Jlivcrs. 
'J'he  town  ctMisisted  of  about  one  thousand  houses,  fiom 
■whieli  the  occupants  fled  at  the  sight  of  the  Spaniards. 
They  were  finally  reassured,  and  induced  to  return.  Soiin' 
two  thousand  of  dieni  made  their  aj»pcaranee,  advaiieiiiL.' 
slowly,  Avitli  every  gesture  and  expression  of  hmuiliali(^n 
and  respect. 

'i'he  wonian  wlioin  the  Sjtaniards  had  the  dav  belbrc 
entertained,  had  not  failed  to  report  magnificent  d(\<rii|>- 
tions  of  lier  eaj^to^s  and  their  vessels,  'i'lie  tokens  wliii;li 
she  brought  back,  in  the  shape  of  beads,  hawks'-bells,  ^Vc, 
Avere  yet  more  convincing  evidence  of  the  beneficence  ami 
wealth  of  the  Spaniards.  She  now  came  forward,  with  her 
hu.sband,  at  the  head  of  a  throng  of  Indians,  ami  every 
expi-ession  of  gratitude  and  gootbwill  was  lavished  by 
them  upon  their  guests.  Every  thing  that  the  poor  natives 
j)ossessed  was  freely  at  the  Spaniards'  service. 

Columbus  writes  of  these  islanders:  "True  it  is  that 
after  they  felt  confidence  and  lost  their  fear  of  us,  th<y 
were  so  liberal  with  wdiat  they  possessed  that  it  wcjuld  not 
be  believed  by  those  who  had  not  seen  it.     If  anv  thing 


J 


V"    I 


CCncr  ;iliil 


TIMlUvS  OF  TIIK  WKST  INDIES,   KTC 


401 


was  juskcd  of  thf'in,  tbcy  never  said  no;  Lut  rather  gave  it 
elieerfully,  and  .showed  a-s  much  amity  as  if  they  gave 
tlirir  Vfiy  hearts." 

Tiic  early  voyagers,  and  all  contemporary  writers,  agree 
that  this  was  the  character  of  nearly  all  the  iidiabitants  of 
till'  Wrst  India  I.slands,  with  the  exception  of  the  Carih.s.  A 
more  giiilele.><s,  innocent,  contented  race  lias  never  existed, 
ami  never  were  strangers  welcomed  to  a  foreign  shon;  with 
more  genuine  and  kindly  hospital". y;  hut  what  a  return 
(lid  they  rec(MVc  for  their  friendliness  and  submission! 

Coasting  along  towards  the  east,  Colund)Us  landed  at 
Acul,  and  held  friendly  communion  with  the  inhabitants, 
whose  first  fears  were  easily  dispelled.  'J'he  .same  scenes 
of  mutual  presents  and  hos])italities  that  charactenxed  the 
foniier  landings  were  here  repeated.  The  whole  of  that 
region  of  country  was  under  the  command  of  a  great 
cauifiue,  named  Guaeanagari,  frcjin  whom  the  .*~^paniard.s 
now,  for  the  first  time,  receivdl  messengers,  inviting  them 
to  visit  him,  and  offering  vai'ious  curious  j)resents.  Among 
these  ai'tieles,  were  .some  specimens  of  rude  work  in  gold. 

^V!lile  ])ursuing  his  course  eastward,  with  the  intention 
nf  anchoring  in  a  harbor  dc.scribeil  as  near  the  residence 
of  liie  cacique,  CoUnnbus  had  the  misfortune  to  be  east 
away  njion  a  sand-bar.  No  shipwrecked  mariners  ever 
received  more  j)romj)t  and  ellicient  relief  than  was  inmie- 
(liutely  extended  by  Guaeanagari  and  his  subjects.  Every 
tiling  was  brought  to  land  fVom  the  wreck,  and  guarded 
with  the  most  scrupulous  honesty.  The  cacique  hims(,'lf, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  came  on  board  the  caravel  Nina, 
whither  the  admiral  and  his  crew  had  been  obliged  to  be- 
take themselves,  and  offered  every  assistance  in  his  j)ower. 

With  respect  to  the  goods  brought  on  .shore  in  tin 
natives'  canoes,  "there  seemed,"  says  ^fr.  Irving,  "cvcmi 
among  the  common  {)eoj)le,  no  disposition  to  take  advan- 


tage of  the  misfortune  of  the  stranger'? 


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INDIAN  HACKS  OF  A:\rEKICA. 


beheld  what  must,  in  their  eyes,  have  been  incstirnablo 
treasures,  cast  as  it  were  upon  tlieir  shores,  and  ojeti  to 
depredation,  yet  there  was  not  the  least  attem])t  to  ])iircr. 
nor,  in  transporting  the  effects  from  the  ship,  liad  tlicy 
appropriated  the  most  trifling  artich;;  on  the  contrarv,  a 
general  sympathy  was  visible  in  their  countenances  and 
actions;  and,  to  have  witnessed  their  concern,  one  would 
have  supposed  the  misfortune  had  happened  to  themselves." 

The  Spaniards,  wearied  with  long  and  j)roritlcss  vov- 
aging,  now  revelled  in  the  enjoyment  of  true  Indian  Ikjs- 
pitality.  The  cacique,  who  was  reganh.^d  with  the  utmoj;t 
love  and  reverence  by  his  subjects,  continued  his  kind 
offices,  and  his  people  were  not  behind-hand  in  following  his 
example.  What  delighted  the  shipwrecked  mariners  more 
than  any  other  circumstance,  was  the  number  of  gold 
ornaments  possessed  by  the  natives,  and  which  they  wei-e 
eager  to  dispart  for  any  trifle  of  European  manufacture. 
Ilawks'-bells,  above  all  other  articles  of  use  or  ornament, 
were  universally  in  demand.  "On  one  occasion,"  savs 
Irving,  "an  Indian  gave  half-a-handful  of  gold  dust  in  ex- 
change for  one  of  these  toys,  and  no  sooner  was  in  {posses- 
sion of  it,  than  he  bounded  away  to  the  woods,  looking  often 
behind  him,  and  fearful  that  the  Spaniard  would  repent  of 
having  parted  so  cheaply  with  such  an  inestimable  jewel." 

The  natives  described  the  mountains  of  Cibao  as  the 
principal  source  whence  gold  was  to  be  obtained.  Valua- 
ble mines  were,  indeed,  afterwards  discovered  in  that 
region,  although  tlieir  yield  fell  far  short  of  the  extravagant 
ant  cipations  of  the  Spaniards. 

A  portion  of  the  crew  of  the  wrecked  vessel  expressed 
a  strong  desire  to  remain  at  Ilispaniola  until  another  ex- 
pedition could  be  fitted  out  from  S[)ain,  upon  the  return 
of  the  Nina,  and  Columbus  was  not  displeased  with  the 
proposition.  The  Indians  were  overjoyed  at  the  prospect 
of  retaining  some  of  the  powerful  strangers  in  their  island, 


icstiinable 
oj  on  to 

to   pilfer. 

liad  thcv 
ontrarv,  a 
uiccs  ami 

)1R'  W()lll(l 

mselvcs." 
tless  vov- 

lian  lios- 
lie  utmost 

liis  kind 
lo\vinL,r  Ills 
ners  more 
r  of  <:o]d 
they  wci'G 
nufacture. 
ODiameiit, 
ion,"  says 
lust  in  ex- 
in  posses- 
kin  L' often 
rej)ent  of 
)le  jewel." 
lao  as  tlio 
L  Yalua- 
1  in  that 
travagaiit 

expressed 
other  ex- 
he  return 
with  the 
'  prospect 
eir  island, 


I — 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


49;i 


as  a  protection  n,L^linst  tlic  invasions  of  the  dreaded  Curihs, 
and  as  security  for  a  future  vi^it  from  Juiropcuii  vessels. 
Thev  had  seen,  with  wonder  and  awe,  the  terrible  cfTTect  of 
the  discharge  of  artillery,  and  the  admiral  had  ])r()mised 
the  assistance  of  his  men  and  weapons  in  case  of  any  inroad 
from  an  enemy's  country. 

The  little  fortress  of  La  Xavidad  was  speedily  con- 
structed out  of  the  materials  of  the  stranded  vess(d,  an<l 
fortified  ^vith  her  cannon.  The  Indians  eagerly  lent  their 
assistance  in  the  labor  of  transportation  and  building. 
Thirty-nine  men  were  chosen,  from  the  numerous  volun- 
teers for  that  service,  as  a  garrison  for  the  fort:  to  these 
Columbus  addressed  the  most  earnest  exhortations  to  dis- 
cretion and  kindness  in  their  intercourse  with  the  natives. 
Ilis  heart  might  well  be  touched  by  the  continued  courtesy 
and  affection  of  Guacanagari,  who  could  not  refrain  from 
tears  at  parting  with  his  venerated  friend.  The  Nina 
sailed  on  the  ^th  of  January,  1493.  Coasting  eastward, 
the  caravel  joined  company  with  the  Pinta,  under  Pinzon, 
of  which  DO  accounts  had  been  for  some  time  received,  and 
the  two  vessels  passed  cape  Gaboon,  and  came  to  anchor  in 
the  bay  beyond.  Here  was  seen  a  tribe  of  Indians  very 
different  from  those  of  the  west  end  of  the  island.  From 
their  bold  and  warlike  appearance,  their  bows  and  arrows, 
clubs,  and  wooden  swords,  the  Spaniards  took  them  for 
Caribs,  and,  unfortunately,  before  coming  to  a  friendly 
understanding  with  them,  a  skirmish  took  place,  in  which 
two  of  the  Indians  were  wounded.  Ilcconciliation  and 
friendly  intercourse  succeeded.  I'hc  tribe  i)roved  t(j  be 
that  of  the  Ciguayans,  a  hardy  race  of  mountaineers.  Co- 
lumbus was  j)articularly  struck  with  the  noble  demeanor 
of  the  cacique,  sup])osed  to  be  the  same  afterwards  promi- 
nent in  history  as  Mayonabex. 

Not  long  after  the  dejiarture  of  the  a(hniral  from  La 
Navidad,  the  Spaniards  left  at  the  fort  began  to  give  them- 


\w\ 


l.,;t 


If 


'5^,:t 


3' 


'i      '         .1, 1 


49^ 


INDIAN   IIACES  OF  AMERICA. 


selves  up  to  the  iiKxst  unbounded  and  dissolute  licons<^ 
Their  savage  quarrels  among  themselves,  and  the  grosn 
sensuality  whieh  characterized  their  intercourse  Avitli  the 
natives,  soon  disabused  the  latter  of  the  sublime  conccp. 
tions  formed  by  them  of  the  virtues  and  wisdom  of  ilirir 
guests.  With  all  this  misrule,  the  precautions  of  a  mili- 
tary post  were  utterly  neglected,  and  full  o])portunity  was 
given  for  an  attack.  The  destruction  of  the  fort  ly  llic 
Carib  Chief  Caonabo,  will  be  found  described  in  a  subse- 
quent chapter. 

AVhen  Columbus  returned  to  Tlispaniola,  upon  his  second 
voyage,  nothing  but  dismantled  ruins  marked  the  spot  of 
the  settlement.  Guaeanagari  and  his  people  described  tiic 
attack  of  Caonabo  and  his  warriors,  their  own  futile  at- 
tempts to  assist  the  garrison,  and  the  slauglit(T  of  tlie 
Spaniards.  Notwithstanding  the  ajiparent  good  faitli  of 
the  cacique,  many  of  the  Spaniards  began  to  mistrust  lii.s 
accounts,  and  to  suspect  him  of  having  acted  a  treaclicr- 
ous  part.  This  suspicion  was  strengthened  by  his  sudden 
departure  wdth  several  of  tlic  female  captives  bnjuglit 
away  b}^  the  admiral  from  the  Caribee  Lslands. 

The  hope  of  procuring  rich  treasures  of  the  preei(;iis 
metals,  and  the  desire  of  holding  in  check  the  warlike 
Caonabo,  induced  Columbus  to  establish  the  fortress  of  St. 
'^riionuis  in  the  province  of  Cibao.  Those  stationed  at 
this  remote  interior  position,  in  the  midst  of  moi'c  hardy 
and  proud-spirited  tribes  than  those  of  the  coast,  collected 
and  transmitted  much  curious  information  concerning  na- 
tive superstitions,  customs,  and  nationalities.  Some  crude 
notions  of  supernatural  influences,  apparitions,  necroman- 
cy, &c.,  were  entertained  by  these  islanders,  in  connnon 
with  most  savage  nations.  They  had  also  an  idea  of  a 
future  state  of  happiness  for  the  good,  in  whieh  all  earthly 
pleasures  should  be  enjoyed  in  unalloyed  perfection. 


Z-i 


TUIBES  OF  TUi-:  \\ K> 


CIIA 


ixniiis,  ou 


•I'Jj 


11. 


INDIANS  OF  JAMAICA l^tlMSK  At.oNi;  THK  SorTIl  Ki;  N  COAST  OF  CKliA 

— si'KKcii  or  A.N  iMiiAN  CI II' \si; i,i,i 1 1; — i)!i''nci'i.rii;s  attiik  ko".- 

TltESS    OF   ST.   TI!()."\1AS ll'S    SIKM-;     IIV    CAO.NAr.d KI-FOK'TS   OF 

COLUiMIiUS  TO    HKSTOIJK  oi;ii|;i; — CKI.AT   UlSIN'i    OF   TIIIC    IN- 
DIANS OF  IIISFANKM.A Tlir.lll   lii;iF,AT Tl!  I  IM'l'K  IMI'OSKI) 

VISIT  OF  (tAI!lIlilI.(l>l  i;\V  'Id  V  \  i;  A(il\\  \ FCHTIIKK  IN- 

SIJUUKCTIONS    IN    III!;   Vi;i.A IIOKAIPILI.A   AS   VICKIiOV 

— ciu'Fi/riKs  n!Ai;TiM:i)o\  'i  iii';  i.mha.ns — lasca- 
SAS — iNciiiic.NTs  i;i;i,ATi;iJ  liv  i-ckciias — admin- 

ISTKATIO.N  OFOVAMiO KXI'KlilTHiN  AliAl.NST 

XARACCA KFDCCTIO.N   (jF   llUiCKV. 

Ix  the  month  of  ^Tay,  1494,  the  island  (;f  Jamaica  wm 
first  discovei'cd  by  Columhus,  The  native  inliabitanis 
iipijcarcd  to  be  of  a  very  dill'ereiit  eharader  fioin  the  timid 
and  gentle  islanders  with  whom  (uniuM-  iiitcreoiiiVL;  had 
hcen  held.  A  (.*rc)wd  of  cancx's,  HIIi'(l  with  s;iv;ioi.s  Gau- 
dily adorned  with  jdumcs  and  paint,  ()]i[)(i,;cil  the  laniling 
of  the  Spaniards.  Tliese  were  paeilicd  by  the  Indian  in- 
terpreters on  board;  but  upon  laiidiiiL;",  the  next  tla\',  liio 
throng  of  natives  on  shore  cxhibitcMJ  i^\u'\i  deiadcdly  hos- 
tile intentions,  that  it  became  necessary  to  intimidate  them. 
A  few  discharges  from  the  Spiinish  eiMss-bows  snlliced  to 
})Ut  them  U)  flight.  The  f^'rocity  of  a  saviige  (h)g,  bi'ought 
o'.i  shore  by  the  whites,  added  givatly  to  their  terroi". 

There  was  no  difliculty  in  allaying  the  ajiprehensions 
of  these  Indians,  and  th(>  usual  friendly  interiioursc;  was 
soon  established.  During  a  cruise  along  the  southern 
coast  of  Cuba,  -wdiieh  occupied  the  succeeding  months  of 
June  and  Jul\^,  the  islanders  seen  were  as  gentle  and  tract- 
able as  those  upon  the  northern  shores  of  the  island.  'J'he 
means  of  communication  now  aflbi'ded  Ity  the  Indian  in- 
terpreters gave  new  interest  to  every  conference.      The 


■  1 1  .  u 


* '  s 

1 

'irl'  ' 

t. 

1 

h  ^ 


h\ 


m ' 


in.1 ; 


•\<-  3 


iM 


fii: 


m 


n 

III,,  1 1> 


IM 


4(J0 


INDIAN    RACES  OF  AMKIUCA. 


woiidcriiig  crowd  of  luitivcs  would  -^Mtlicr  witli  iLc  mos' 
c.'i^cr  interest  aronnd  tlicso  their  rellow-cciiuti'virKjii  to 
listen  to  the  tides  of  goi'geo'is  spectacles  and  unlitard-of 
Wonders  witnessed  Ly  tlieinsclves  in  the  distant  eoiintiv 
of  the  whites.  ^IMiere  was  en(jngh  of  the  n(;vel  ami  won- 
derful before  the  C3'es  of  tlie  ignorant  islanders,  in  tho 
shi})s,  aj)])earanee,  conduet,  and  costume  of  tlui  S})aniai(ls, 
to  prevent  incrcdulitv,  as  they  listened  t(j  the  nai'i'atiun.s 
of  the  intei'preters.  The  j)ei'f(-)rnianco  of  the  religious  ser- 
vices of  the  Catholic  church,  struck  the  natives  with  awe, 
}>articularly  wdieu  the  j)urj)ort  of  these  ceremonials  wus 
cxjjlained  to  tlieni.  In  testimony  of  their  mitui'al  intelli- 
gence and  perceptions  of  right  and  wrong,  Mr.  Irving 
gives  lis,  fi'om  Ilerrera,  the  fallowing  speech  of  an  nged 
councillor  of  one  of  the  Cuhan  caci(^ues,  after  witnessing 
the  celebration  of  the  mass: 

"  When  the  service  was  ended,  the  old  man  of  fourscore, 
wlio  had  conteiriplated  it  with  ])ro found  attention,  ap- 
proached Columbus,  and  made  him  an  oration  in  the  Indian 
manner. 

'"This  whicli  thou  hast  been  doing,' said  he,  'is  well;  for 
it  appears  to  be  thy  manner  of  giving  thanks  to  (iod.  I 
am  told  that  tliou  hast  lately  C(anc  to  these  lands  with  a 
mighty  force,  and  hast  sub(bied  many  countries,  spreading 
great  fear  among  the  peo])l(;;  but  be  not  therefore  vain- 
glorious. Know  that,  according  to  our  belief,  the  souls 
of  men  have  two  journeys  to  perform  after  they  have  de- 
parted from  the  body;  one  to  a  }dacc  dismal  and  foul,  and 
covered  with  darkness,  i)reparcd  for  those  who  have  been 
unjust  and  cruel  to  their  fellow-men;  the  other  j^leasant 
and  full  of  delight,  for  such  who  have  promoted  peace  on 
earth.  If  then  thou  art  mortal,  and  dost  expect  to  die 
and  dost  believe  that  each  one  shall  be  rewarded  accord- 
ing to  his  deeds,  beware  that  thou  wrongfully  hui't  no  man, 
nor  do  harm  to  those  who  have  done  no  harm  to  thee.'" 


J 


T11I13ES  OF  TJIE  WEST  INDIES,  Ki"(,". 


-11)7 


From  CiihcT,  the  adiiiirul  visited  tlie  soulliei'ii  sIkmvs  of 
Jamaica.  All  tlie  first  distrust  and  opposiiioii  ol'  the  iii- 
hahitaiits  had  vaiiishetl,  and  iiotliiiij^  hut  ,i:cntUMU'ss  and 
kindness  eharactei'i/,('(l  tlicir  demeanor.  At  one  place  a 
caei(pie  canu!  out  to  the  ship  with  his  whole  family,  ''e< in- 
sisting of  his  wile,  two  daiighters,  two  .sous,  and  five  bioth 
ers.  One  of  the  daughters  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
heautiful  in  fcjrm  and  countenanee;  her  sister  was  some- 
what ^'ouuger;  both  were  n;d<ed,  according  to  the  (;ust(jm 
of  the  islands,  but  were  of  mode.st  demeanour." 

^J'his  chief  professed  himself  ready  to  go,  with  all  his 
train,  in  the  S{)anish  vessels,  to  visit  the  king  and  ([ueen 
of  Spain,  and  acknowledge  liimself  their  va.ssal,  ii'  by  so 
doing  he  could  jircservc  his  kingdom. 

During  tlie  absence  of  Cohnnbu.s,  the  dissolute  and  un- 
principled Spaniards  at  the  foi'tress  of  St.  Thomas,  so 
grcssly  abuwMi  their  power  among  the  natives,  th;it  an  I'X- 
tcnsivc  s])ii'it  of  hostility  was  rouseil  np  against  iliem. 
Caonabo  v,'as  nnwcaried  in  his  efforts  to  excite  the  otlier 
island  caci(pies  t(j  a  union  against  the  intruders,  and  tlie 
faithful  Guacanagari  alone  seems  to  have  been  j)rnof  ag.iinst 
his  ])ei'suasions,  in  revenge  for  which  n(jn-compliance, 
the  Cai'ib  and  his  brother-in-law,  Hehechio,  committed 
numberless  indignities  and  injuries  upon  him  and  his 
people.  Serious  difficulties  soon  arose;  a  numljcr  <»f 
Spaniards  were  put  to  death  by  Guatignana,  a  subordinate 
cacique  under  the  celebrated  Guarionex,  in  jmnishmi.iit  lor 
outrages  committed  upon  his  people;  and  Caonal'o  besieged 
the  garrison  at  St.  Thomas  with  a  force  of  many  thousands 
of  his  warriors.  After  thirty  days'  of  incHectual  attempts 
to  reduce  the  place,  he  gave  up  the  undertaking,  and  drew 
off  his  army.  The  stratagem  by  wdiicli  the  person  oi"  this 
noted  chief  and  warrior  was  secured  by  the  commandant 
at  St.  Thomas's,  will  be  detailed  hereafter.  Columbus,  upon 
his  return  to  IJispaniola,  made  u.se  of  every  elTort  to  check 
82 


,  I 


»        r  11 


iUt 


■f 


•*, 


f,; 


^;  '  I 


f 


ri 


-^ 


4!)4 


JNDIAN    II.VCKS    OF    AMKKICA. 


lli(!  ruirioMS  (lisoi-dcts  wliidi  lia<l  Itcroinc  [ii'c\;i1ciit.  1[q 
)»iiiii.sli(Ml  (iiiiili;_Miiiii:i  1)}'  ail  inv:isi(;ii  of  his  iloininions  iiinl 
tlu)  (Icnstnict.ion  of  iid  small  miiiihcr  oC  his  iicoplc.  An 
iiitorvi(!\v  was  then  brought,  uhoiit  with  his  superior,  (iiia- 
rioMcx,  :i  p(!a<;(;ul)l(!  ami  \V(  ill -disposed  chirl"  who  ri';i(lil\' 
coriHented  to  tlio  (!Stai)lishiiu'iil  ol'  a,  Spanish  loit,  in  iho 
very  licart  of  his  doniaiiis. 

The  crushing  system  of  ()])pressi()n  had  now  Tiii'ly  coni- 
menced,  iind  wm  })n)mpt]y  followed  up  by  tlu;  shipnicnt 
of  fiv(!  Iinndred  Indians  to  Ix;  sold  as  sl!iv(\s  in  Spain. 
This  was  dir(!(;tly  the  a(!t  of  (^)luml)iiH  himself,  and  histo- 
rians only  odor,  us  liis  excuse,  the  argument  that  such  was 
the  ordinary  custom  of  his  w^y.  in  all  wars  with  savages  or 
infidels.  'I'lu!  intcrj)()sition  of  \\\r.  kiiid-li(!ar1ed  h^^ahelja. 
])revcnt(3d  the  consummalion  of  this  proposed  sale.  Uv 
her  orders,  the  j)risoners  were  sent  hack'  to  their  lioine.-, 
but,  unforlunjit(dy,  not  until  the  slate  of  alfaii's  upon  tin; 
islands  was  such  tha,t  the  jioor  Indians  might  have  been 
better  situateil  as  slaves  in  Sj)ain. 

A  general  combination  of  the  island  chieftains  against 
the  Spaniards  (inally  induced  Columl)Us  to  comnieiiee  ;in 
active;  ca.mj)aign  against  them.  In  tlie  domitiions  of  tlie 
captive,  ('aonabo,  his  brolher,  Manicaotcx,  his  brother- 
in-law,  Hchechio,  and  his  beautiful  wife,  Anaeaoiia,  w 
tlu^  most  {)roniineiit  in  authority,  and  tin;  most  aeti 
in  rousing  up  ho.stilities.  TIh;  Spanish  foi'ce  consisted 
a  little  o\er  Iwo  hundreil  men,  twenty  of  whom  wei 
mounted,  and  twenty  hl(in(l-hnunil.'<^  aii  <'nemv  as  novel  ;is 
terrible  to  the  nake(l  savages,  (iiiacianagari  lent  his  feeble 
aid,  with  that  of  his  foUowei'S.  ( )f  the  number  of  the  iios- 
tile;  Indians  in  tin;  district  of  the  Vega,  the  historians  of 
the  tiiiu!  gav(!  (^\aggerated  accounts.  ^Fhey  sj)cak  ol'  an 
array  of  oiu;  hundred  thousand  hostile  savages.  Mani 
caotex  was  leader  of  the  united  tribes.  Near  the  site  of 
the  present  town  of  St.  Jago,  a  decisive  battle  was  fought, 


ere 
\  1' 
of 


i'  n 


All 


1 


■III.     llo    1 1 
liollHillld     I 

ill'.     An 
i'lr,  (Juii- 
)  n'nililv    ' 
rt,  ill  ihc 

irly  <'<)tii- 

sliipiiiciit 
ill   S]i;iiii. 

Mil     llistM- 

silcli  WHS 
iivjij^i'S  (ir  I 
Is;'ilirll;i.  ' 
sail'.  l>y 
ir  liuiiic.-, 
11)11)11  iIk- 
i;ivc  liccii 

IS  ;i;:;iiiist    ' 
K'lK",'  ;iii 
lis  ol'  tlic 

Id'nllifr-     ; 
)I1H,  Wriv       I 

ist   iictivc 

ISIStcil   III       1 
M)lll     WCIV       I 

novel  ;is  I 

his  feel  ill'  I 

i|'  till'  iios-  I 

tdi'iiiiis  tif  j 

(•ilk  (if  ;in  : 

s.      Maiii  i 
lir  site  iif 

us  loULlilt, 


TUIHKS  OF  TIFK  WKST  INDIES,  KTC. 


499 


in  wliit'h  tlic  vast  army  of  the  Indians  was  iittorly  ronte(l. 
1'he  Spanish  coiiunandcr  did  not  hesitate  to  divide  liis  little 
battalion  into  several  detachments,  wlueh  fell  ui)on  the 
enemy  simultaneonsly,  from  dilU'rent  quarters.  Torn  to 
jiieees  Ly  the  sava,L.';(!  do.u's,  trami)led  down  by  the  cavalry, 
and  unable  to  elleet  any  thing  in  turn  a.L^ainst  the  mail-eUul 
whites,  the  poor  hulians  were  overwhrlmed  with  confusion 
and  terror,  'riie  rout  was  as  complete,  although  the  mas- 
sacre W!is  not  so  cruel,  as  when  I'i/arroattiveked  the  Peru- 
vian Inea,  with  an  almost  equally  disproj)ortionate  force. 

"'I'he  Indians,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  "fled  in  every  direction 
with  yells  and  bowlings;  som(!  chambered  to  the  toj)  of 
rocks  and  ])reeipi('es,  from  whence  they  made  ])iteous  su{>- 
jilieations  and  oU'ei's  of  complete  submission;  many  wei"e 
killed,  many  made  j)risoners,  and  the  confederacy  was,  for 
for  the  time,  comj)letely  broken  up  and  disj>ersed." 

Nearly  the  whole  of  Ilispaniola  was  sj^cedily  reduced  to 
subjection;  Ijcheehio  and  his  sister,  Anaeaona,  alone  of  all 
the  nativs  in  authority,  secluded  themselves  among  th(^ 
unsettled  wilds  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  island. 
All  the  other  caciques  made  conciliatory  ovcrtui'cs,  and 
submitted  to  the  imjxisition  of  a  heavy  and  grievous 
tribute  u{)on  them  and  their  subjects.  A  hawks'-bell 
filled  with  gold-dust,  or  tweiit3'-live  pounds  of  cotton,  was 
quarterly  re(piired  at  the  hands  of  every  Indian  over  the 
nge  of  fourteen  ;  from  the  chiefs  a  vastly  larger  amount  was 
eolleet(!(l.  ^Fhc  contrast  between  the  former  easy  and  lux- 
urious life  of  the  islanders,  their  gayety  and  content,  their 
simple  ])leasurcs,  and  unfettered  liberty,  with  the  galling 
servitude  and  wearisome  tasks  now  imposed,  is  most  touch- 
ingly  and  eloquently  described  by  Irving.  Unable  to 
endure  the  unwonted  toil  and  hopeless  labor,  the  Indianr, 
vainly  endeavored  to  escape;  to  the  mountains,  and,  sub- 
sisting upon  the  crude  products  of  the  forest,  to  evade  the 
crueltv  of  their  enslavers.     Thev  were  liunted   out,  and 


I'^m 


,>i 


il     ll!'*^! 


* 


MI' 

1 

i 
1 

^^ 

1     • 


!■>' 


k  U 


:ifi:il#' 


GOO 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


compollcfl  to  n^turii  U)  tlicii'  liomcs  and  to  llieir  luhora 
^riu!  uiifortuimto  (Juiicniuigiiri,  receiving  no  lUvor  iVimi  tlio 
KUSj)iciou.s  Sjianiiirds,  jind  bein<^  iin  o]))(H't  of  the  (Icrjjosi 
liiiti'(!d  to  liis  coiintryinen  fortiu!  partlu;  liad  takiMi  in  their 
slrii'j'^de  for  (iMH'doin,  died  in  neglect  and  wretcliedne.srf 
among  tlie  mountains. 

Jn  141)0,  IJartliolotnew,  abrotlier  of  Columbus,  then  ex- 
ercising the  oHiee  of  adcilantado  at  Ilispaniohi,  visited 
])ehecliio  at  liis  remote  western  province  of  Xaragn;iv. 
He  was  received  witli  liospitality  and  kindness  by  tiiis 
eliief  and  his  sister  Anacaona,  and  entertained  in  tin'  best 
manner  the  country  eoidd  ailbrd.  The  object  of  tlie  cx- 
])edition  was  to  in(bice  the  cacique  to  coni])1y  peaceably 
with  the  Spanish  reipiisitions  of  tribute.  IJehechio  had 
learned  by  sad  experience  the  power  of  the  Munipi^im 
arms,  and,  as  the  adelantado  agreed  to  receive;  the  tribute 
in  such  articles  as  his  country  produced,  instead  of  gold, 
h(!  readily  consented.  l^artholoinew's  Judicious  policy 
towards  these  illustrious  islanders  gained  him  their  highest 
esteem.  Bchechio  and  his  sister  })aid  the  tribute  required 
cheerfully  and  promptly;  and,  upon  the  occasion  of  a  visit 
from  the  adelantado  to  receive  it,  they  both  took  occasion 
to  visit  the  caravel  in  which  he  had  arrived.  Anacaona, 
especially,  was  fdlcd  with  delight  at  the  sight  of  the  vessi'l, 
and  at  witnessing  the  case  and  certainty  with  which  its 
movements  were  controlled. 

The  females  of  Xaraguay  were  of  most  remarlcablo 
beauty,  but  preeminent  among  them  was  the  widow  of 
Caonabo.  Her  queenly  demeanor,  grace,  and  c(^urtesy, 
won  the  admiration  of  the  Spaniards. 

In  the  following  year  (1497)  another  insurrection  broke 
out  among  tribes  of  the  Vega  and  the  vicinity.  '^I'he  im- 
mediate cause  of  this  outbreak  was  the  execution,  at  the 
stake,  in  accordance  with  the  barbarity  and  bigotry  of  the 
age,  of  a  number  of  Indians,  for  the  offence  of  saciilcgc 


— u 


,''.  ,  I 


mm 


TUIUKS  OF  THK  WEST    INHIKS,   KTC 


501 


Ouarionox,  tlio  j)riiicij)al  cuciqiio,  had  Ixvii  an  oLjcct  of 
s])C(;ial  iiitrn.'st  with  \]\r.  cci'lcsinstics  to  wliorn  was  com- 
nutted  tho  work  of  converting  tlie  i.shiiuh'rH.  His  casv 
and  j)lial)h;  disposition  caused  hitn  to  listcin  patiently  to 
their  instructions,  and  to  cotnjily  with  nunuTous  forms  of 
their  enjoining.  Some  one  of  the  Spaniards  liaving  coin- 
niitted  an  outrage  upon  his  wife,  Guarionex  refused  to 
listen  further  to  th(!  (h>ctrines  of  a  religion  whose  profess- 
ors wen^  guilty  of  such  villanies.  Sluirtly  a.fter  tliis,  a 
ch.'ipcl  was  hroken  open,  and  images  enshrined  within  it 
were  destroyed  by  a  number  of  the  natives.,  For  this 
odence,  those  implicated  were  burned  alive,  as  above  men- 
tioned, ^riie  adelanta(  ■  <  suppres.sed  th(>  conserpient  uprising 
by  a  prompt  and  energetic  s(M/urc  of  the  leading  chiefs. 
^Fwo  of  these  were  ptit  to  death,  but  Guarionex  and  the 
others  were  pardone(L 

By  the  ]icrsuasions  and  influence  of  the  rebellious  Kol- 
dan,  the  iinfoi'tumite  eaciquo  was,  in  llf>.^,  drawn  into  a 
second  conspiracy  of  the  natives.  'J'lic  })l(jt  was  j)rema- 
turely  devciloped,  and  Guarionex  fled  from  the  plains  of 
the  Veixa  into  the  mountains  of  Gi'Miav,  and  ioined  his 
fortunes  to  those  of  the  eaciquo  ,Nfayonabex.  'I'liis  gener- 
ous and  noble  chief  received  him,  witli  his  family  and  a 
few  followers,  under  his  protection. 

From  this  retreat,  with  the  assistance  of  Ciguayan  war- 
riors, i\u'.  fugitive  was  enabled  to  molest  the  S])anish 
settlements  of  the  low  country  with  impunitv,  until  tlu; 
Adelantado  l^artholoinew  invadt'd  tlu;  mountain  district, 
dispersed  the  armies  of  ^^ayonabc.\■,  and  took  both  liim 
and  his  guest  j^risoners.  ^i'he  conqueror  was  moiv  j)l;icable 
towards  a  fallen  foe  tlian  most  of  his  c(Mintrvinen,  and, 
upon  the  submission  of  the  Ciguayans,  Avas  ready  to  accord 
them  protection  and  favor.  Guarionex  j)erished,  in  1502. 
on  his  passage  for  Spain,  in  the  same  vessel  with  Boba 
dilla  and  Koldan.     1'he  ship  foundered  at  sea  in  a  terrible 


!'  1 1  ii 


,    II 


m 


'■«' 


ih| 


1 

til" ' 


!f 


w 


602 


INDIAN    liACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


ImrricMiic,  wliicTi  iirosi.!  inuiicclialcly  after  the  (lcT)arturo 
from  Ilispiiiiiola. 

It  was  iiiidcr  llm  a«liiiiiiistratii)ii  ol'  I)(>l)a(lilla  lliat  tli(i 
Indians  of  lIisj)anioIa  were  i'i'iliicc(l  to  u  nu)n!  cuniplcto 
and  systematic;  condition  iA'  slavery  than  hefon;.  They 
wore  re;.'uhirly  parceled  out  to  the  Spanish  pi'oprictors 
of  the  mines,  by  whom  ihey  were  compelled  to  hihoi'  I'.ip 
beyond  their  powers  of  endurance,  and  whose  wanton  ciiirl. 
ties  excited  the  strongest  indignation  in  the  miml  of  tlie 
benevolent  FiasCasas — one  of  the  few  historians  ol' his  ago 
and  nati(Mi,  wlio  ])ossessed  the  inclination  or  courage  to 
])aint  the  cruelties  of  his  countrymen  in  their  true  colors, 
'i'his  truly  benevolent  in;in  (h;voted  the  greater  portion  of 
his  hfe  to  ellbrts  for  ameliorating  the  condition  ol'  the  na- 
tives of  the  New  World,  ])\\t  in  liis  sym])athy  with  their 
sufferings  and  oppressions,  he  unlbrtumitely  lost  sight  of 
wdiat  wtus  due  to  another  scarcely  less  unfortunate  rare. 
lie  Avas  among  the  earliest  to  advocate  the  substitution  of 
negro  slavery  for  that  of  the  Indians,  under  the  inijires- 
siou — doubtless  in  itself  just — that  a  state  of  servitude  was 
less  intolerable  to  the  one  than  the  other.  It  is  to  has 
Casas  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  most  frightful  detail  of 
wrong  and  cruelty  in  the  settlement  of  the  West  Indies, 
that  ever  disgraced  human  nature.  His  deseri[)tions  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  native  })opulation  was  annihilated  to 
minister  to  the  luxury  and  avarice — nay,  far  worse,  to  the 
depraved  and  wanton  cruelty  of  the  S])aniards — are  fright- 
ful in  the  extreme.  We  can  share  in  the  honest  indigna- 
tion of  okl  Purchas,  from  whose  "Pilgrimage"  we  cite  the 
following  items: 

"In  the  Island  llisjianiola  the  Spaniards  had  their  first 
Indian  lial)itations,  where  their  cruelties  draue  the  Indians 
to  their  shifts,  and  to  their  weak  defence,  which  caused 
those  enraged  Lions,  to  spare  neither  man,  woman,  nor 
childe. — They  set  up  gibbets,  and  in  honour  of  Ciihtst  and 


TUIUr.S  OF  TUK  WKST  INDIHH,  KTC. 


503 


nis  twolvt^  ApostK's  (as  they  said,  ami  cdhIiI  the  Diiiell 
Bay  worse?)  tlicy  would  botl-.  liaii.i^'  ami  hiiriu!  tlieiii.  *  * 
The  Nobles  and  eoiiiiiiaiideis,  th'-y  l)roile(l  on  ;^'ridii'oiis, 
*  '*  *  'I'licy  had  do^';''es  to  hunt  thcin  out,  ol"  tlieii- coueits, 
whi(;h  di'uoui'cil  the  ))ooi'e  sniiles:  and  because  sometimes 
the  Indians,  thus  prouoketl,  would  kill  a  Spaniard,  if  they 
found  opportunitii',  they  made  a  law,  that  an  hundred  of 
them  should  for  one  Spaniard  be  slaine." 

Jle  elsewhere  remaiks: 

"Ilen^  [in  Cuba]  was  a  eaeirpie  named  Hathuey,  which 
calltMl  his  subjects  jibout  him,  and  shewin;^  them  a  boxe  of 
(i(;ld,  said,  that  was  the  Spaniards  God,  and  inade  them 
dance  about  it  very  solemnly;  and  le;st  the  S{)ania,i'(ls 
should  have  it,  he  hurled  it  into  tiu^  iriiicr.  licinj^  taken 
and  condemuiMl  to  the  lire;  when  he  was  bound  to  the 
stake,  a  I''i'iei'  eiime  and  pi'caclu'*!  hcauen  to  him,  and  tlu^ 
terrors  of  hell:  llathuey  asketl  if  there  wciv  any  S])aniards 
in  heauen,  the  Frier  answered,  yea,  such  as  were  ^ood; 
llathuey  rejilied,  he  would  rather  '^oc  to  hell,  then  goe 
where  any  of  that  eruell  Nation  were.  1  was  once  present 
saith  Cn.sds^  when  the  inhabitants  of  (^ne  towne  brought  vs 
forth  vietuall,  and  met  vs  with  great  Kindnesse,  and  the 
S])aniards  without  any  cause  slew  three  thousand  of  them, 
of  euery  age  and  sexe.  I,  by  their  eounst'lj,  siMit  t(^  other 
Towiies  to  meet  vs,  with  promise  of  good  dealing,  and  two 
and  twentie  Cacic|ues  met  vs,  which  the  Captaine,  against 
all  faith,  caused  to  be  burned." 

In  Ilisjianiola,  under  the  administration  of  Ovando,  sue- 
ccstior  t(j  Jiobadilla,  the  sulVerings  and  oppressions  of  the 
overtasked  natives  reached  their  climax:.  It  would  be  but 
a  wcaris(yme  repetition  of  barbai'itics  to  enumerate  the 
wrongs  pei'])etrated  against  the  submissive  inhabitants  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  })rincipal  S{)anish  settlements,  but  the 
expedition  against  the  ])rovince  of  Xaraguay  mci-its  a  more 
particular  attention.     This  was  in  the  year  LJUo.     ]5ehft- 


'II 


!»■ 


"iiAm!!,, 


■i 


Sf 


,r.' 


i|i 


504 


INDIAN   UACE.-5  OF  AMKlilCA. 


cliio  was  dead,  but  Itis  sister  Anacaona  still  maintained  licr 
influence  over  the  natives  of  tliat  district.  U])()n  j)retence 
of  an  intended  insurrection,  Ovando  determined  to  reduce 
Xaragiuiy  to  a  condition  as  miserable  and  hopeless  us  that 
of  tiie  eastern  districts.  He  stalled  ujxmi  this  exi)e(litii)ii 
with  three  hundred  well-armed  infantry  and  sevcntv 
mounted  men.  I'he  army  entered  tlic  dominions  oC  Ana- 
caona with  the  appearance  of  fi'iendshi}),  and  the  ((urcn, 
with  her  associate  caciques,  was  not  backward  in  rendei-inir 
to  her  visitors  all  the  hospitalities  of  the  country.  Troop.s 
of  young  girls,  dancing  and  Avaving  branches  of  ])alni, 
ushered  them  into  the  principal  vilhige,  where  they  w(M'e 
received  and  entertained  with  every  token  of  kindness 
and  good-will. 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  any  adequate  motion  on 
the  j)art  of  the  ferocious  Ovando  for  the  treacherous  ei-u- 
elty  of  his  conduct  towards  his  hosts.  lie  all'eeti'd  to  be- 
lieve that  a  conspiracy  w;is  on  foot  among  the  niilivcs,  to 
ma.ssacre  hiin  and  his  fblh^wers,  but,  judging  from  what 
wc  can  learn  of  the  transaction,  there  existed  no  jiossil/le 
ground  for  such  a  suspicion.  The  coui-se  taken  to  avert 
the  sujtposed  daiiger  was  as  fallows.  All  the  ea<:iipi('s 
were  invited  to  attend,  with  their  ]»eoj)le,  at  a  grand  festi- 
val or  exhibition  of  S])anish  martial  exei'cises.  Wlicii  tiio 
unsus[)ectiiig  Xaniguans  ha<l  gathere*]  in  eager  ciii'iositv 
to  behold  the  scene,  iit  ;i  given  signal,  th*.'  arme<l  S})ani;ii'i!s 
fell  upon  the  ei"o\vd,  ;iiid  a  scene  of  horrible  carnage  en- 
sued. i'\)i1y  of  tlie  eliiils,  it  is  said,  were  taken  })risoii('rs, 
and  after  being  subjecteil  to  the  most  cruel  tornjents  to 
extort  from  them  a  confession  of  guilt,  the  hous(>  where 
they  were  confined  was  set  on  fire,  and  the  whole  munbeT 
perished  in  the  flames. 

Anacaona  was  carried  to  St.  Domingo,  tried,  adjudgcfl 
guilty  of  an  attenq)t  at  insurrection,  and  hanged!  Her 
subjects  were  remorselessly  persecuted;  hunted  from  tlie'ir 


((ljll(ll.'-i 

h] 

.1! 

H 

T 

om 

the 

T 

TIUIJKS  OF  TUK  ^VJ■;ST  IXI^IK.S,  KTC. 


;()5 


retreats  among  tlio  inoni)t;iiiis,  slain  like  wilil  boasts,  or 
brouglit  into  tlic  most  siM'vile  and  hopeless  boiida.uc,  tli^y 
attempted  no  resistanec,  and  submitted  to  the  enu'l  y<^he 
of  their  tyrants. 

I'he  reduetioii  of  the  eastern  }irovinee  of  lli,!j,;iie_\',  and 
the  cxeeutiou  of  its  noble  and  gigantic  chief  Cotul)anama, 
completed  the  Spanish  conquests  on  the  island  of  llispan- 
iola.  The  details  of  the  barbarities  attendant  ujjon  this 
last  wai'farc,  as  given  \)y  i^as  Casas,  are  too  lioi-rible  and 
(lisLmstini!:  for  minute  recital.  It  is  sunicient  that,  nor  eon- 
tent  with  the  destruction  of  the  conrpiered  people,  without 
regard  t(^  age  and  sex,  the  Spaniards  tasked  theii-  inirennity, 
to  devise  the  most  cruel  and  ling(M-ing  torments  in  the  luiir- 
der  of  tlunr  f)risoners. 

Bv  such  a  course  of  atrocitit'S  were  the  AV<'st  fiidia 
islands  depo])ulated  of  their  original  inhabitants.  'i'ho 
summary  with  which  Purchas  concludes  his  enumeration 
of  varicnis  sc(uu's  of  Spanish  cruelty,  is  t(;o  quaint  and 
forcible  to  be  omitted.  "Uutwhy  doe  I  longer  ti'aee  them 
in  their  bloudie  steppes;  seeing  our  Authoi-  that  I'elates 
much  more  then  I,  yet  pn^testeth  that  it  was  a  thousand 
times  worse.  *  *  IIow  may  we  admire  that  long-sutVering 
of  God,  that  rained  not  a  floud  of  waters,  as  in  X"'i/'is 
tinu!.  or  of  fire,  as  in  Xo/.s,  or  of  stones,  as  in  Jn.s/iuds^  or 
some  vengeance  from  heauen  vpou  these  ^fodels  of  lie"? 
And  how  could  Hell  forbcare  swallowing  such  pn^pai'eil 
inorscds,  exceedingc!  the  beastlinesse  of  beastes,  inhuman- 
itie  of  wonted  tyrants,  and  diuelishnesse,  if  it  were  poa- 
aible,  of  the  Diucls." 


,(.,  I 


1.,''      1 

1 

1 

i 

^\ 

1 

\ 

i  ll'  ''- 

IC'i      \                    i 

'4 

ill 

ir;  1 

'm%k 

\.' 

t  ; 

I 

i-,  ■■ 
If' 

I- 

■^ 

506 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMKiilCA. 


ClIAriER    III. 


TFIK  C'AIMBS TFrKIR  ISLANDS   KIWST  VISITi;!!   liV  COLUMIiCS — OIU.ilN 

AND   LOCATMN  OF  TIIK    liAiK TOKK.NS  OK  C  A  .\.\1  HA  MSM   SKK.V   liY 

Till':    Sl'A.NIAIiDS — ^CKI'ISK    A.MONCi    TIIIC    1SI,A.\DS — DK.MKANOli 

OF  PKISONKKS  TAKK.N KKTIII.N    TO   lllSl'AMof.A I.KSTli  UC- 

TION    OK    THK    KOHntESS   AT    THAT    ISLAND CAl'TCKK   Or" 

CAONAHO  :    HIS  DKATII  —  KXrUl.^ION  OF  TIIK  NAVIVES 
rnoM   TIIH    CAlilBliKE    ISLANDS. 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  America  by  Cliristopher 
Columbus,  the  fierce  and  celebrated  race  of  cannil)als  wliich 
forms  the  subject  of  the  present  chapter  was  princi])allv 
located  upon  the  beautiful  tro])ical  islands,  extendinti;  fiom 
Porto  Kico  to  the  main  land  c^f  South  America,  ^i'he  ter- 
ror of  their  invasions,  felt  by  the  more  gentle  and  pe;icc- 
al)le  natives  of  the  greater  Antilles,  inspired  no  litiie 
curiosit}'  and  interest  in  the  minds  of  the  early  voyngOf?. 
and  Columbus  had  promised  the  assistance  (jf  tlie  S])aiiish 
])o\ver  to  ch(>ck  their  ravages.  Upon  his  second  voy;tge, 
in  l-lOo,  the  first  land  made  was'  one  of  the  Caribbean  isl- 
ands, and  on  the  following  day,  (Xovember  -ith,)  a  landing 
Avas  elTected  at  Guadaloupe.  Here  the  first  intercourse 
took  place  with  the  terrible  Caribs. 

This  singular  race  of  savages,  according  to  tnulilion 
had  its  origin  upon  the  continent  of  "sorth  America, 
among  the  mountain  districts  of  the  central  United  States. 
Perhaps  they  might  have  sprung  from  the  same  stock  as 
the  warlike  !Monacans  and  other  savage  tribes  of  tlic 
interior,  s])oken  of  by  earl}^  historians.  "They  are  said  to 
have  migrated,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  "from  the  remote  val- 
leys embosomed  in  the  Apjialachian  mountains.  The 
earliest  notices  we  have  of  them  represent  them  with  their 
weapons  in  their  hands;  continually  engaged  in  wai's;  win- 
Ding  their  way  and  shifting  their  abode,  until  in  the  course 


iilJ 


TRIBES  OF  TUE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


507 


of  time  tliey  found  tlicnisclvcs  on  tlio  extreme  end  of 
Florida."     ilence  they  made  tlieir  way  from  one  island  to 
luiother  to  the  southern  eontinent.     "The  arehipelago  ex 
ti'ndin'jf  from  Porto  liieo  to  Tobaw,  was  their  stronu;-h(jld, 
imd  tlie  island  of  Guadaloupe  in  a  manner  their  eitadel." 

\Vhether  the  foreui;oinif  aeeount  of  the  ori;;inal  dcriva 
tion  of  the  race  be  the  correct  one,  it  would  be  dilVicult  to 
decide  at  this  distance  of  time.  When  first  known  to 
Kiiropeans  the  dilfurent  nations  of  Caribs  were  widely  dif- 
fused upon  the  Continent  of  South  America.  '^I'hey  were 
to  be  found  upon  the  banks  of  the  Orinoco,  where  their 
descendants  are  living  at  this  day,  and,  still  farther  soutii, 
in  Bra/Jl.  T'hey  were  every  where  noted  for  the  same 
fierce  and  warlike  sjnrit.  Something  of  the  })hysical  char- 
aeteristics  of  the  inhabitants  of  eastern  Asia  has  been 
observed  in  the  Caribs  and  the  Guarani  tribes  who  in- 
habited the  country  north  of  the  Amazon.  As  described 
by  D'Orbigny,  the  following  })eculiarities  are  n(jticcable 
inmost  of  them.  "Complexion  yellowish;  stature  middle; 
forehead  not  so  much  arched  as  in  other  races;  eyes  ob- 
liquely placed,  and  raised  at  the  outer  angle." 

To  return  to  the  experience  of  the  discoverer  of  the 
Xcw  World  at  the  Caribbee  islands.  At  the  landing  of 
the  Spaniards,  the  natives  fled  from  a  neighboring  village 
into  the  interior.  In  order  to  conciliate  them,  ihe  visitors 
fastened  hawks'-bells  and  attractive  ornaments  to  the  arms 
of  some  children  who  had  been  left  behind  in  the  hurrv  of 
llight.  The  sight  of  human  remains,  among  othei'  things, 
''the  head  of  a  young  man,  recently  killed,  which  was 
Vet  bleeding,  and  some  parts  of  his  body  boiling  with  the 
flesh  of  geese  and  parrots,  and  others  roasting  before  the 
fu'c,"  at  once  suggested  the  thought  that  this  must  be  the 
country  of  the  Caribs.  Columbus  t(jok  a  number  of  the 
natives  prisoners,  and  carried  oif  several  women  who  had 
beeu  held  in  captivity  by  the  islanders.     It  appeared  that 


1  1 

1     , 

i! 

\  1 . 

1 

:li 

.i«,  i 

;  il,-'! 


l< 


'w^rr- 


iiHfll 


508 


INDIAN  liACES  OF  AMEltlCA. 


most  of  the  men  of  tlic  island  were  uway  upon  s(jnie  war 
like  excursion. 

Pursuing  his  course  towards  Hisj)auiol;i,  ov  irayti,  wlicrc 
the  first  colony  had  been  planted  upon  his  preceding  vuv- 
age,  Columbus  sailed  by  numerous  islands  of  the  (  ariljluMii 
gr(jui)e.  lie  landed  at  Santa  Cru/,  called  Ayay  li\-  tlie 
Indians,  and  secured  a  further  nund)er  of  piisoners.  Somi; 
of  these  were  in  a  canoe,  and  ollered  a  fierce  ivsi>t;uicc 
when  they  saw  their  retreat  intercepted  by  (jne  of  t'nc 
Sj)anish  boats.  There  were  two  Avomen  of  the  ])art\',  one 
of  them  apparently  a  female  cacique,  and  these  sIk^ui-I  m, 
less  valor  than  the  men.  ^I'liey  wei'c  taken  by  npsctliii' 
their  canoe;  but,  even  in  the  water,  they  resisted  sioiitlv 
to  the  last,  availing  themselves  of  every  point  of  sunken 
rock,  where  they  could  obtain  a  foothold,  to  discliiu-u 
their  arrows.  One  of  the  men  was  a  son  of  the  (pircn,  and 
his  "terrible  frowning  brow,  and  lion's  face,"  excited  tlic 
admiration  of  his  captors.  The  demeanor  oC  the  wlnde 
party  reminds  one  strongly  of  the  early  descrij)ti(;ns  of  tho 
]\Iaquas  or  Mohawks  when  in  captivity. 

"  W^hen  on  board,"  says  Irving,  "the  Sj)aniards  could 
not  but  admire  their  untamed  spirit  and  fierce  demeanour. 
Their  hair  was  long  and  coai'se,  their  eyes  encii'cle(l  wiili 
paint,  so  as  to  give  them  a  hideous  expression;  thev  Ii.hI 
bands  of  cotton  bound  firmly  above  and  behnv  tin;  mnsca- 
lar  parts  of  the  arn^s  and  legs,  so  as  to  cause  them  to  swell 
to  a  disproj)ortionate  size,  which  was  regarded  by  tlieni  as 
a  great  beauty,  a  custfMn  which  prevailed  among  vai'ious 
tribe's  of  the  new  world.  Though  ca})tives,  in  ehains,  an^l 
in  the  })ower  of  their  enemies,  they  still  retained  a  fntun- 
ing  brow  and  an  air  of  defiance." 

Arriving  at  Ilayti,  Columbus  found  the  settlement  at 
La  Navidad  laid  waste  and  abandoned.  Its  destruction 
was  owing  to  a  Carib  chief  named  Caonabo,  wlujse  wai'Iike 
and  commanding  nature  had  gained  him  unbounded  an- 


il V 


s(jiuc  war    i 


CllU'lUlOlil', 


illL''   Vill'UHl.S 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,   E'lC. 


>09 


tliority  over  tlic  luitives  of  the  island.  ^J'li(»  fact  of  his 
uuiling  liiiiiself  with  another  race  by  wliieh  liis  own  na- 
tji^n  was  regarded  with  the  utmost  detestation  and  dread, 
and  his  attainment  of  I'ank  and  inniienee  uinhr  such 
ciiviunstances,  arc  sufficient  ])i'ools  (jf  his  entci'jirise  and 
capacity. 

Tlie  friendly  Indian  chief  Gnacanagari  had  in  vain  ex- 
tended his  assistance  to  the  little  hand  of  .S})anish  colonists. 
Caonaijo  had  heard  at  his  estahlishnient  among  the  moun- 
tains of  Cihao,  of  the  outrages  and  excesses  committed  ])y 
the  whites,  and  during  the  absence  of  the  admii'al,  he 
made  a  descent  upon  the  f(;rt.  All  of  the  Spaniards  per- 
ished, and  (Juacanagari  was  W(;unded  in  tlii;  encounter. 
As  a  further  punishment  foi"  his  espousal  of  the  cause  of 
the  detested  strangers,  his  village  was  destroyed  by  the 
revengeful  Cai'ib. 

Guacanagari  and  other  Ibiytian  Indians  were  taken  (;n 
board  the  Spanish  vessels,  and,  anujiig  otlier  ])roofs  of 
superiority  and  power,  were  shown  the  Cai'ib  ])i'is(jners, 
confined  in  chains.  This  seemed  to  allect  them  moi'e 
powerfully  than  any  thing  else  thut  they  witnessed.  These 
captives  were  afterwards  sent  over  to  Spain  i'or  instruction 
ill  the  S})anish  language  and  in  the  true  religion,  it  being 
intended  that  they  should  thereal'ter  act  as  missionaries 
among  tlieir  own  savage  c(;untrvmcn. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  capture  of  the  Span- 
iards' most  dreaded  enemy,  Caonal)o,  are  too  singular  and 
Well  attested  to  be  passetl  over.  This  was  accomplished 
by  the  celebrated  Alon;io  de  Cjeda,  commandant  of  the 
fortress  of  St.  Thomas.  The  Carib  chief  was  able,  it  is 
asserted,  to  bring  no  less  than  ten  thousand  warriors  into 
the  Held,  and  his  ])ersonal  strength  and  courage  rcndi'red 
him  no  des[)icable  foe  in  open  ciJinbat.  Ojeda  hail  recourse 
to  the  following  stratagem  to  secure  his  enemy:  lie  pro- 
ceeded, accompanied  by  only  ten  mounted  companions, 


h 


I 


■!  ,.t 


;;.r 


111 ,!'.  iM 


*\  I 


tir 


'Jii 


^T '  'ff 


riiiiii 


i|l|| 


"'1 


510 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


direct  to  tlic   cliiefs  cncarnprnont,   ujion    pretence   f)f  a 
fricii(l\y  inissiiju  from  the  luliiiirul. 

4'lie  cacicjue  was,  after  great  pfjrsuasion,  induced  tn 
undertake  an  exj)edition  to  Isabella  lor  the  })ui'p(,)se  o( 
pea(;(>ful  negotiations  with  Columbus.  Among  other  in- 
ducements, OJeda  promised  him  the  chapebbell,  as  a  pi'cs- 
cut.  Accompanied  by  a  lai'ge  body  of  ai'med  wai'iims, 
the  party  set  out  for  the  Spaiiisli  settlement.  Near  tin.' 
river  "i'agui,  in  the  words  of  ^Ir.  Irving,  "Ojeda  owe  dnv 
produced  a  set  of  manacles  of  ])olished  steel,  so  higlijv 
burnished  that  they  looked  like  silver.  Those  he  assnicd 
Cac^nabo  were  royal  ornaments  which  liad  come  bom 
heaven,  or  the  Turey  of  Biscay,"  (the  location  of  certain 
extensive  iron  manufactories);  "that  they  were  worn  liv 
the  inonarchs  of  Castile  in  solemn  dances,  and  other  high 
festivities,  and  were  intended  as  ])resents  to  the  eaci(|U('. 
He  proposed  that  Caonabo  sliould  go  t(^  tlie  ii\cr  ana 
bathe,  after  winch  he  slundd  be  d(K'orated  with  these  oiiia- 
ments,  mounted  on  the  horse  of  Ojeda,  and  should  I'ctuin 
in  the  state  of  a  Spanish  monai'ch,  to  astonish  his  subji'cts.' 

The  bold  device  was  completely  successful.  Caonabd. 
en  croupe  behind  Ojeda,  for  a  short  time  exulted  in  lii.i 
proud  i)osition,  curvetting  among  his  amazed  wari'iois: 
but  suddenly  the  little  cavalcade  dashed  into  the  forest  with 
a  rapidity  that  defied  pursuit,  ^fhe  cacique  was  sal'cly 
carried  a  distance  of  fiity  or  sixty  leagues  to  Isabella,  and 
delivered  to  the  admiral.  He  ever  jifter  ex})ressed  gnat 
admiration  at  the  skill  and  courage  with  which  his  captor 
had  du})ed  him,  and  manifested  a  reverence  and  rcs]iect 
towards  Ojeda  which  his  proud  and  haughty  spirit  forbade 
him  to  exhibit  in  any  other  presence,  even  that  of  Colum- 
bus himself. 

Upon  the  occasion  of  the  admiral's  second  return  to 
Spain,  in  1497,  Caonabo,  with  several  of  his  relatives,  and 
a  number  of  other  Indians,  was  taken  on  boaid.     Baflled 


\      4 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  E'lC. 


511 


1)V  contrary  winds,  the  vessels  Wi-rc  a  long  lime  delayed  at. 
llie  very  comrnenei'inent  of  the  voyage.  A  landing  was 
eflected  at  Guadaloupe,  lor  tlie  purpose  uf'])roeuring  IVc-'li 
provisions. 

I'lio  inhabitants  exhibited  tin  ii"  natural  hostility  of 
dis[)osition,  and  it  was  espet'ially  observed,  as  upon  a 
former  occasion,  that  the  women  were  as  warlike  and  cll;- 
cicnt  as  the  men.  -.V  number  of  these  females  wei'c  made 
prisoners,  among  the  rest,  one  who  was  wife  of  a  chief  of 
the  island,  a  woman  of  most  remarkable  agility  and  strength. 
On  setting  sail,  the  admiral,  desirous  of  conciliating  the 
good-v.'ill  of  the  natives,  set  his  ]>risoners  free,  and  gave 
them  divers  presents  in  pay  for  the  provisions  and  stores 
plundered  by  his  crew,  'i'he  eaci([ue's  Avife  was  allowed 
to  remain  on  boai'd,  with  her  diiughter,  at  her  own  re- 
quest, she  having  become  enamori'd  of  thee;iptive  Caon.-ibo. 
This  distinguished  chieftain  died  before  the  vessels  I'cach- 
ed  Spain. 

The  Carib  trilx^s  who  occupied  the  islands  where  the 
race  was  first  encountered  by  I'luropeans,  miuutained  pds- 
session  of  their  homes  as  long  as  ci)urage  and  desperation 
could  avail  against  the  superior  skill  and  weapoe.s  of  the 
whites.  SiKinish  cupidity,  and  love  of  no\'elty  ;ind  ad- 
venture led  to  the  gi'adual  oecu])ation  of  the  Carilibee 
islaiuls.  In  some  of  them,  bl(  ody  battles  were  (ought:  "At 
St.  Christopher's,"  according  to  the  liev.  W.  11.  Bi-ett,  "in 
1025,  two  thousand  Caribs  jiei'ished  in  battle,  whilst  tlu'ir 
Kur(j[)ean  invaders  lost  one  hundred  men.  In  tlu'  otlau" 
islands  their  losses  were  eciually  great.  The-'^e  calamities 
would  cause  a  migration  of  the  natives  when  thev  Ibund  it 
useless  to  fight  any  more.  Some  of  the  islands,  as  Mar- 
tinico,  were  suddenly  abandoiu^d  by  them,  after  a  fierce 
but  uuavailino;  struL'u:le. 

Iliose  of  tlie  Caribs  who  chose  to  forsake  the  islands 
entirely,  would  naturally  take  refuge  with  their  brethren 


1  MM     ; 

1 

l|i|fil^i 

'1 

1       1 

{ 

1 

i! 

1 
1 

If 

;       1 

It* 

I 

M 

V 

^m-i. . 


1    1  f 


\^-\l^ 


■   I' 


k  I*;: 


!  I 


m.  . 


t'       i 


^ 


II   |l 


!    I, 


■  1  ,' 


ipip^^i 


ni2 


INhlAN    i;.\('i:S  OK  AMKIilCA. 


iilrcatly  sell  led  in  (!iii!iii;i,  imd  |,_y  \\ir\y  v.'ilor  secure  to 
IIkmiiscIvcs  siicli  jH.itioiis  of  llic  (•(iiiiitrv  as  llicy  mi-jlif, 
iliiiik  pi(.|MT  to  occiiiiv;  ;is  ll'w  liil)c.s  would  l,r  nl,],.^  ,,| 
''"''■•''I  'l:ii''',  I"  "pposc  tliciii.  A  rciiiii.'iiii  ol'  tlir  (';iril,.^ 
Htill  iviii;iiiicd  iit,  St.  \'iiicciit,  ;iiid  tlicy  wvAV.  1  r;iiis|i(>ilcil 
idM.iit,  the  end  of  tli(!  hist,  (viitiiry,  t.o  llic!  island  of  Kuatlan, 
in  the  liav  el'  I  londui'as." 

Tins  once  tcirihlc  and  divndrd  race     so  dreaded  ],v  llie 
Spaniards  that,  va-'iie  ivportsoC  the  approaeli  of  an  aimv 

oCCaiil.s  eonid  terrily  the  ( ([iierorsor  IVru  in  the  midst 

of  their  sneee.^ses-  is  \\t,\\  ivdneed  to  u  few  insi,iiiiilic;iiit 
trihes.  The V  are  seaileivd  in  the  wilderness  of  ( iiii;nia, 
and  niin^li'd  with  other  nati(.ns  of  the  interior,  .\\nn\i 
the  n]i])er  waters  of  the  Toineroon  is  one.  ol"  their  in(,st 
considerable  estal)lishnients,  and  the  trilxj  there  located 
iiuini.ers  hnt  a  (i'W  hundred  sava^^vs,  livin,-;  in  almost,  as 
])rnnilive  a  state  as  when  Columbus  first  coasted  alon" 
these  ti'opieal  shores. 


ClIAI'TKR   IV. 

INOr^VN'S  OF  ranAXA    and  VKN'K/CKI.A CI.ASSII'ICATION— TMK    AHA- 

WAKs — lausT  sKi;.\  iiv  coi,i,';\iia;s~K,\Ti; v  into  thk  (n'l.r  ok 
PAKiA — imsiMTAi.rrv  or  -rar.  nati vrs— KAi.KHin's  visrr 

TO  T 1 1  r  O  li  I  N  OC  O— !■  A  H  I ,  \'  W  A  If  S  O  !■  Tl  f  lO  A  I!  A  W  A  K  S 

VICTOKY  OVKU  TMK  CAHIIIS MAIIOON  NKIIlfOKS 

l'l!i:sr.NT    CONDITION   or   TIIK   AC  A  WAKS 

— oruKK  TiniiKs  or  tiik  intkkiok —  ' 

GKNKUAI,  DKSCItll'TION. 

TiiK  tribes  who  iidiubit  tlio  wilderness  between  the 
Aiua/A)n  and  the  si-a-coast  scltlenunits  at  the  north,  npop 
the  (Caribbean  sea  and  tlie  Atlantic,  liavo  been  classilicdas 
bcdongit'.g  to  the  same  flunily  with  the  aboriLMnal  inhabit- 


» 


ff'^lf* 


Mif' 


-      Ui         ' 

f       ' 

1  I' 

M'J.: 

1. 

1 
1 

.'m 


T      7' 


I     i, 


i'!l  J 


%1: 


<*'       L 


5     t    i 


•i     •    ■■• 


-     = 


TUIIJKH  OF  TIIK  WEST  IN'IUDS,  KTC. 


513 


ants  f)f  Bra/H.  Tlic  riwx;  \u\n  l)ccn  (hMioiniJiatoil  tho 
"Brasilio  diiaaraiii,"  and  lias  been  (livi<l('<l  into  tlic  nations 
ofduai'ani,  ( 'aribs, 'riqii,  and  Hoffx-iidns. 

Ill  (iiiiaua  oim  of  iIk;  most  jironiint-nt  tribes  in  tlial,  of 
the  Arawaks.  Tliosf!  jx'oplo  iidiabit  a  great  extent  (»f 
country  diructly  back  of  tho  narrow  strip  of  eultivatod 
8eu-C'oast.  Nearly  tlu;  whole  of  their  territory  is  u  sava^o 
wildonicss,  in  which  the  traveller  in  vain  seeks  for  any 
evidence  of  progress,  or  any  tokens  of  former  civilization 
and  j)rosperity.  A  few  rude  figures,  marked  upon  the 
rocks  in  certain  localities,  are  the  only  records  of  the  num- 
berless generations  wh'ch  have  passed  away,  leaving  tlii'ir 
descendants  pri'ciscly  in  the  situation  (jf  thos(!  who  ]>re- 
ccded  them,  and  us  hopeless  or  careless  of  improvement. 
The  Arawaks  were  the  first  natives  seen  by  (\)lund)us, 
upon  the  occasion  of  his  discovery  of  tho  continent  of 
South  America,  in  the  summer  of  1498. 

The  first  laud  nKuh;  was  tho  Island  of  Trinidad,  at  the 
mouth  of  tho  great  river  Orinoco.  No  Indians  were  seen 
upon  tho  island  by  a  party  sent  on  shore,  although  unmis- 
takable tokens  of  a  recent  and  hasty  retreat  were  visible. 
As  tho  vessels  aj)proachcd  tho  Seri)ent's  Mouth,  (the  south- 
ern entrance  to  the  gulf  of  Paria,)  twenty-five  of  the 
natives  made  their  appearance  in  a  canoe.  To  the  aston- 
ishment of  the  admiral,  who  had  expected,  from  the  rcjiorts 
at  Ilispaniola,  to  find  a  race  of  negroes  in  these  southern 
latitudes,  they  were  of  lighter  complexion  than  any  wit1> 
whom  he  had  before  held  intercourse.  Their  figures  were 
well  proportioned  and  graceful;  their  only  clothing  was  a 
sort  of  turban,  and  a  waistband  of  colored  cotton;  and 
their  arms  were  bows  and  arrows.  When  an  attempt  \v'as 
made  to  conciliate  these  wild  voyagers  by  dancing  and 
music,  it  was  mistaken  for  a  sign  of  hostility,  and  th(^suj)- 
posed  war-dance  was  summarily  stopped  by  a  fiight  of 
arrows.  The  suspicionL'  of  the  natives  prevented  the 
33 


f 


1> 

1  ' 

*']■  :  i    i!i' 

'!! 

1 

|. 

ill' 

/.;■ 

;  if 

111  Hi 

"M  \i 


J!f  :  '  1 


f 


gy.fi 


)i-i 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEllICA. 


opening  of  any  communication  with  tlicm  until  ufter  the 
entry  of  the  ships  into  the  gulf  Several  of  them  were 
then  taken  by  upsettii.,^  their  canoe,  and,  after  being  kindly 
entreated  and  encouraged,  were  dismisijcd  with  the  usual 
[irescnts  of  trinkets  and  hawks'-bells.  "When  the  fears  of 
the  inhabitants  were  dissipated  by  this  procedure,  tln'v 
were  eager  to  crowd  about  the  vessels  in  their  canoes. 
These  latter  were  of  excellent  construction  and  large  size 
some  of  them  were  even  furnished  with  a  cabin. 

The  cacique  of  the  county  received  the  Spaniards  at  \m 
house  with  the  greatest  resnect  and  hospitality,  and  feastdl 
them  upon  whatever  luxuries  the  fruitful  soil  ])roduc(Ml. 
"Nothing,"  says  Irving,  "could  exceed  the  kindness  and 
amity  of  this  people,  heightened  as  it  was  by  an  intelligent 
demeanour  and  a  martial  frankness.  They  seemed  worthy 
of  the  beautiful  country  they  inhabited.  It  was  a  cause  of 
great  concern,  both  to  them  and  to  the  Spaniards,  that  they 
could  not  understand  each  others'  language." 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  entered  the  Orinoco  in  the  year  1505, 
and  brought  home  some  account  of  the  natives  seen  there. 
As  recorded  by  Purchas:  "The  inhabitants  on  the  Xorth- 
erne  branches  are  the  Tiuitiuas,  a  goodly  and  v.hant  people, 
which  haue  the  most  manly  speech  and  most  deliberate 
(saith  Sir  Walter)  that  euer  I  heard  of  whatever  Nation 
soeuer.  In  the  Summer  they  haue  houses  on  the  groninl, 
<>  K\ng  Ahihcia  as  in  Other  places:  in  the  Winter  they  dwelt 
vpon  the  trees,^  where  they  built  very  artifi- 
ciall  Townes  and  Villaires;  for  betwcene 
May  and  September  tlie  Kiuer  of  Orenoqvie 
riseth  thirtie  foot  vpright,  and  then  are  those 
Islands  ouer-flowen  twentie  foot  high,  except  in  some  few 
raised  grounds  in  the  middle.  This  waterie  store,  when 
the  clouds  are  so  prodigall  of  more  then  the  Eiucrs  store- 
house can  hold,  whereby  they  became  violent  intrudera 
und  incroachers  vpon  the  land,  and  not  the  violence  of 


)    I 


dwelt  on  a  tree 

in  the  coiintrey 

of  Dariena. 

Pet.  Martyr: 

Dec.  3.  lib.  6. 


TRIBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES    ETC. 


515 


cold,  giucth  this  time  the  title  of  "Winter.  These  Tir.itinas 
neuer  eat  of  any  thing  that  is  set  or  sownc;  Natures  nurs- 
lin'jjs,  that  neither  at  home  nor  ahroad,  will  be  beholden 
to  the  art  or  labour  of  ITusbandrie.  They  vse  the  tops 
of  Palmitos  for  bread,  and  kill  Deere,  Fi.-^h,  and  Porke, 
for  the  rest  of  their  sustenanee.  '^I'licy  which  dwell  vpon 
the  blanches  of  the  Orcnoque,  called  Capuri.  and  Macurco, 
are  for  the  most  part  Carpenters  of  Canoas,  which  they 
sell  into  Guiana  for  gold,  and  iuto  Trinidado  for  Tabacco, 
in  the  excessiue  taking  whereof,  the}-  exceed  al^.  Nations. 
"When  a  Commander  dieth,  they  vse  great  lamentation,  and 
wlien  they  thinkc  the  flesh  of  their  bodies  is  putrified  and 
fallen  fi'om  the  bones,  they  take  vp  the  karkasse  againe, 
and  hang  it  vp  in  the  house,  where  he  had  dwelt,  decking 
his  skull  with  feathers  of  all  colours,  and  hanging  his  gold- 
plates  about  the  bones  of  his  arms,  thighes  and  legges. 
The  Arwacas,  which  dwell  on  the  South  of  the  Orenoque, 
beat  the  bones  of  their  Lords  into  Powder,  which  their 
wiues  and  friends  drinke." 

In  early  times  the  Arawaks  were  engaged  in  perpetual 
wars  with  the  Caribs.  Those  of  the  latter  race,  who  inhab- 
ited the  nearest  Caribbean  islands,  made  continual  descent^ 
upon  the  main,  but  are  said,  finally,  to  have  been  worsted. 
The  Rev.  W.  II.  Bretc  recounts  some  of  the  traditions  still 
handed  down  among  the  Arawaks  of  these  w^'''=!.  "They 
have,"  says  he,  "an  indistinct  idea  of  cruel'^.-  ;  letrated 
by  the  Spaniards.  Tradition  has  preserv  ^  th>,  jmem- 
brance  of  white  men  clothed  with  'sep'  ,  '  jt  iron, 
who  drove  their  fathers  before  them,  and,  as  ^ome  say, 
hunted  them  with  dogs  through  tlie  forest.  But  by  far 
the  greater  number  of  their  traditions  relate  to  engage- 
ments between  themselves  and  the  Caribs  on  the  main 
land."  With  peculiar  exultation  they  detail  the  particu- 
lars of  a  victory  obtained  over  a  great  body  of  these 
invaders  b}'  means  of  a  judicious  ambush.     The  Arawaka 


I    1     '■ 


i'l. 


-il-    ,^      ' 


N 


I 


!     41  i 


'I 


516 


INDIAN   RACES   OF  AMERICA. 


o 


!iad  fled  from  tlicir  approacli  to  tlio  low  marsLy  coviiitiy 
upon  the  Waini,  and  laid  their  ainbust-ado  upon  eitlicr 
side  of  the  narrow  channel  through  whieh  tlu;  enc^niy  wcio 
expected  to  ])a.ss.  "The  Caribs  are  said  to  have  iiail  a 
}^reat  number  of  canoes  of  large  size,  whi(;h  followed  caili 
other,  in  line,  through  the  inazy  channels  of  tln^  Savaunali. 
As  tliey  rounded  a  certain  island,  their  {)ainted  wai'ritirs 
in  the  first  canoe  were  transfixed  bv  a  shower  of  arrows 
from  an  unseen  enemy  on  both  si(h's  of  them,  and  totallv 
disabled.  Those  in  the  second  canoe  shared  the  saiiK^  fate; 
tlio  others,  who  could  not  see  what  had  haj)pened,  hurried 
forward  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  cries,  but  each  caiioc, 
as  it  reached  the  fatal  spot,  was  saluted  by  a  deadly  shower 
of  arrows.  The  Arawaks  then  rushed  fjrward,  and  fonglit 
till  the  victory  was  con-.pleted.  It  is  said  that  only  t\v 
Caribs  survived,  and  they  were  dismissed  by  the  A  raw 
chieftain,  on  promise  of  a  ransom  to  be  paid  in  cotton 
hammocks,  for  the  manufacture  of  which  their  natio'.i 
is  noted." 

After  the  settlement  of  difTiciilties  between  the  European 
colonists  of  Guiana  and  the  neighboring  Indian  tribes,  the 
introduction  of  negro  slaves  by  the  former  proved  a  ter- 
rible scourge  to  the  natives.  Great  numbers  of  the  Afri- 
cans escaped  from  their  masters  into  the  wilderness,  and 
there  forming  predatory  bands,  wore  long  a  terror  to  bolli 
whites  and  Indians.  "The  accounts  which  tlic  Arawaks 
have  received  from  their  ancestors,  represent  these  negroes 
as  equally  ferocious  with  the  Caribs,  and  more  to  be  dreaded 
on  account  of  their  superior  bodily  strength." 

The  Arawaks  of  the  present  day  are,  like  their  forefath- 
ers, a  more  mild  and  peaceable  race  than  many  of  their 
neighbors.  In  their  domestic  relations  and  general  man- 
ner of  life,  they  do  not  differ  materially  from  the  gener- 
ality of  the  North  American  savages.  Together  with  the 
rude  clubs,  bows  and  arrows,  &c.,  so  universal  among  bar- 


"] 


iliy  countiy 
ipon  oitlicr 
'iK^rny  wcio 
have  liHil  a 
lowed  each 
!  Siivaiiiiah. 
(m1  waiT'ifirs 
r  of  arrows 
and  totally 

0  same  fate ; 
icd,  hurried 
each  canoe, 
idly  shower 
and  foii;^dit 
it  oidv  two 
lie  Arawak 

1  in  cotton 
heir  nation 

c  European 
1  tribes,  the 
roved  a  ter- 
)f  the  Afri- 
lerncss,  and 
rror  to  both 
10  Arawaks 
lesc  negroes 
)  be  dreaded 


eir  forefath- 
my  of  their 
Ml  oral  man- 
the  gencr- 
icr  with  the 
among  bar- 


TUIHES  OK  TJIP:  WEST  INJilKS,  ETC. 


.17 


harous  nations,  they  have  the  more  cfTicient  weapons  of 
the  Kuropean.  Tlie  Indian  is  every  where  cpiiek  to  per- 
ceive the  advantage  of  liic-arms,  and  apt  in  ac(j[uiriiig  their 
use.  Christian  missionaries  have  devoted  tliemselves  witli 
great  zeal  and  perseverance  to  the  instruction  and  improve- 
ment of  this  tribe,  and  the  natural  kindly  dispositicju  of 
the  race  seems  to  favor  the  undeilaking. 

Besides  the  Caribs  and  Arawaks,  the  jjri.icipa.'  Indian 
tribes  of  (juiana  are  the  VVuraus,  and  the  Wacawoios;  in 
addititjn  to  these  arc  the  minor  nations  of  the  Arecunas, 
Zajjaras,  Socrikotigs,  Woyawais,  Pianoghottos,  tV,c.,  kc. 
Most  of  these  arc  barbarous  triijcs,  n(;t  suniciently  vai'iant 
fvoni  (!ach  other  to  render  a  distinct  consiiJeration  valuable 
or  interesting. 

The  vast  wilderness  which  the_y  inhabit  is  little  visited 
by  wdiitcs.  I''rom  the  coast  settlements  tiie  only  available 
routes  into  the  interior  are  by  means  of  the  numei'ous  riv- 
ei's,  upon  whose  banks  missionary  enterprise  has  here  and 
there  established  a  little  settlement  as  ;i  uuckius  Ibr  lutiire 
operations  aruoiig  the  natives  at  large,  h'rom  Mr.  IJrett's 
narrative  of  his  cnvn  obscrv;ition  and  cx]>erienee  in  these 
wihls,  we  (pujtethe  folhnving  items  of  genci'al  desci'i])lion: 

"The  appearance  of  the  Indian  in  his  natunil  stat(3  is 
not  unj')leasing  when  the  ej'c  has  bi'et^ne  accustomed  to 
his  scanty  attii'C.  lie  is  smaller  in  size  than  cithei-  the 
Euro])ean  or  the  negro,  nor  does  he  possess  the  bodily 
strength  of  either  of  these.  I'ew  of  his  race  exceed  live 
feet  live  inches  in  hei'dit,  and  ihe  i:i'eater  numbi'r  are 
much  shorter.  They  .ire  generally  w(;il  made;  many  arc 
rather  stout  in  proportion  to  their  height,  and  it  is  very 
rare  to  see  a  deformed  person  among  iliem." 

In  respect  to  dress,  which,  both  lor  men  and  women,  i.s 
of  the  most  scanty  proportions,  (consisting  only  of  a  band- 
oge  about  the  loins,  with  perhaps  a  few  ornamental  arti- 
cles of  feather  work  for  state  occasions,)  the  ellbrts  of  the 


I' 


■P: 


''^  Mill' 


'^*f « v^r- 


](• 


i,ii 


618 


INDIAN    KAGP:S   of   AMEllICA. 


missionaries  have  circctcd  some  change  in  those  brovigh' 
under  their  inlluenee.  In  a  bui'ning  tro[)i(,'a]  clinK',  the 
pro])riety  or  })uUcy  of  such  fancied  iin})ruvenicnt  is  very 
qucstionahle.  If  no  immodesty  is  connected  with  naked- 
ness in  the  eyes  of  tlic  unsoj)histieated  natives,  it  wcjiild 
seem  hai'dly  worth  wiiile  to  ciihgliten  them  upijii  such  a 
subject,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  coni'ormity  to 
European  customs. 

Our  author  continues:  "Their  coh>r  is  a  cojipcr  tint, 
pleasing  to  the  eye,  and  the  skin,  where  constantly  (.'ovci'cd 
from  the  sun,  is  little  darker  than  that  of  the  natives  (^f 
Southern  i'Airope.  'J'heir  hair  is  straight  and  coarse,  and 
continues  perfectly  black  till  an  advanced  ])eriod  of  life. 
The  general  ex])rcssion  of  the  face  is  |)leasing,  thoiigli  it 
varies  with  the  tribe  and  the  disposition  of  each  person. 
Their  eyes  are  black  and  piercing,  and  generally  slant  u])- 
wards  a  little  towards  the  temple,  which  would  give  an 
unpleasant  expression  to  the  face,  were  it  not  relieved  by 
the  sweet  expression  of  the  mouth.  The  forehead  gen- 
erally recedes,  though  in  a  less  degree  than  in  the  vVfi-icaii ; 
there  is,  however,  much  difference  in  this  respect,  and  in 
Bome  individuals  it  is  veil  formed  and  prominent." 

The  usual  division  of  labor  among  savage  nations  is 
observed  in  Guiana.  The  daily  drudgery  of  the  household 
belongs  to  the  women,  who  also  cultivate  the  small  fields 
in  which  the  yuca,  (the  root  from  which  they  make  their 
bread,)  and  the  other  cultivated  crops  are  raised.  The 
men  pursue  their  hunting  and  fishing,  and  undertake  the 
more  severe  labors  attendant  upon  the  building  their  huts, 
the  clearing  of  new  ground,  &e. 

The  native  dwelling  is  generally  little  more  than  a  roof 
of  palr.ideaf  thatch  supported  upon  posts,  between  which 
hang  the  cotton  hammocks  in  which  the  occupants  sleep. 
Some  few  implements  of  iron-ware,  and  articles  of  pottery 
of  a  more  substantial  and  practical  form  than  that  maim- 


d} 


TlilBES  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES,  ETC. 


519 


facturcfl  by  tlicmselvcs,  are  generally  procured  by  trade 
with  the  coast,  but  these  are  all  of  the  simplest  description, 
^faize,  with  cassava,  yams,  })otatoes  and  othc^  roots, 
constitutes  their  })rincipal  vegetable  food.  The  cassava  is 
prepared  by  grating,  or  scraping,  and  subsequent  })rcssure 
in  a  receptacle  of  basket-work,  'i'his  strainer  is  constructed 
iu  the  form  of  a  "long  tube,  open  at  the  top  and  closed  at 
the  bottom,  to  which  a  strong  loop  is  attached.  The  pvil{)y 
mass  of  cassava  is  placed  in  this,  and  it  is  Knspendc;d  from 
a  beam.  One  end  of  a  large  stalF  is  then  placed  through 
the  loop  at  the  bottom,  the  woman  sits  u[)on  the  centre  of 
the  staff,  or  attaches  a  heavy  stone  to  the  end,  and  the 
weight  stretches  the  clastic  tube,  which  presses  the  cassava 
inside,  causing  the  juice  to  flow  through  the  interstices  of 
the  plaited  material  of  which  it  is  nuide.  This  liquor  is 
carefully  collected  in  a  vessel  placed  beneath.  It  is  a  most 
deadly  poison ;  but  after  being  boiled,  it  becomes  perfectly 
wholesome,  and  is  the  nutritious  sauce,  called  casarcep, 
which  forms  the  principal  ingredient  in  the  pepper-pot,  a 
favourite  dish  of  the  couutry." 


i^\ 

vm 

?  i 


I 


I    »#  I 


-1 


u.'    ! 


^'f  - 


♦nihil: j  .    . 


THE  ;\BORIGINES   OF  PERU. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PHYSICAL    PECULIAUITIKS  OF  TIIK    QUICHtJAS.  AYMAIiAS.  ATACAM.IS, 

AND  CHANGOS NATUKE  OK  TIIK  COUNTUY PEIIUVIAN  WOKKS  OF 

ART,  ETC. — FIUST  KUMOIIS  OK  TIIK  \VKAI/riI  OF  THE  CMUNTKY — 

EXPED1TI<(N  OF  PASCUAL  DE  ANDAOOVA FKANCISCO  P.'ZAH- 

RO  :   Ills  FIKST  VOYAGE  OF  DISCOVEliY ALMAGIto's  VOYAGE 

CONTi'ACl"  OF  PIZAlUiO,  ALMA(iltO,  AiND  LUQUE — THE 

SKCONU  EXPEDITION — PIZAUKO  AND  HIS  COMPANIONS 

UPON   THE    ISI.E  OF  GORGONA — CONTINUATION    OF 

THE  VOYAGE — TUMBEZ liETUKN    TO    PANAMA. 

The  Peruvian  and  Araucunian  races  alone,  ainonu'  tlio 
South  Anicricau  aborigines,  })rcsent  subjects  oi'inteic.st  to 
the  historian.  The  other  tribes  of  that  great  portion  uf 
tlie  western  continent  arc  at  an  inlinite  remove  from  tln.-o 
in  the  scale  of  civilization,  and  can  scarce  be  said  to  have 
any  sc])arate  naticmal  history.  We  shall  describe  thrir 
habits  and  physical  appearance,  much  as  we  should  eutur 
upon  the  duties  of  the  writer  upon  natural  history:  au 
attempt  to  arrange  a  serial  narrative  of  events,  as  con- 
nected with  them  would  be  useless. 

Widely  contrasted  with  the  wild  and  sava2;c  tribes  of 
the  interior,  and  of  the  eastern  coast,  the  Peruvians  ollbi, 
in  their  character  and  history,  a  fruitful  theme  for  the 
attention  and  rL'search  of  the  historian  and  the  philoso- 
pher. As  a  nation,  they  were,  when  discovered  by  Kuro- 
pcans,  perfectly  unic^ue.     Such  rellnements  in  governnieut, 


t!l!i:„kU    I 


m  l| 


'  1' ''«' 

;   ■  ■ 

'  1 

;     ( 

( 

1         1 

1' 

11 

ATACAMAS, 


Mi  ! 


itins  ulici, 


1 

1      i 
i' 

■i^ 


l''     ■:) 


yH.1Xi:isio     /'  I  /..I  li  U  o. 


II '  ^  'i 


SOUTH  AMKKICAN    INDIANS. 


;V2l 


siu'Ii  unity  of  j)urposo,  and  such  jx'iToct  systoni,  as  wero 
ol)scrval)l('  in  all  tlii'ir  customs  and  usa;^cs,  liave  never  been 
even  atli'injiled,  nuich  less  a(!coin|iIislied,  by  any  other 
eorniniinity  throughout  the  globe. 

The  i)hysical  conlbrniation  of  the,  (^uieliua  race,  the 
most  i)romiiient  among  the  aiuiient  inhabitants  of  I'ei'u,  is 
somewhat  singular.  'I'he  clleets  oC  living  at  such  an  im- 
mense elevacion  as  that  of  many  of  their  cities,  and  of  the 
great  plateaus  which  they  iidiabit  among  tin;  Anch's,  cause 
a  remarkable  development  of  the  chest.  'I'lie  rarity  of  the 
air  in  mountainous  (hstricts  render  a  much  greater  volume 
of  it  necessary  in  respiration,  'i'he  Qnichuas  have  there- 
lore,  according  to  M.  d'Orbigny,  ''very  large,  scjuare 
shouhk-rs,  a  bi'oad  chest,  very  voluminous,  highly  arched, 
and  longer  than  usual,  which  increases  the  size  of  the 
trunk.  *  *  'i'he  extremities  are  nevertheless,  very  muscu- 
lar, and  bespeak  great  strength;  the  head  is  larger  than 
usual  in  j)roportion  to  the  rest  of  the  body;  the  hands  and 
feet  arc  always  small." 

The  Quichuas  dill'er,  in  a  nuirked  nianncr,  from  most  of 
the  other  South  American  nations,  in  the  features  of  the 
countenance.  These  arc  said  in  some  degi'cc^  to  apjiioach 
the  Mexican  type.  A  prominent  ac(piiline  nose,  lai'ge  nos- 
trils, the  foi'ehead  somewhat  retreating,  a  moderately  i'ull 
cerebral  development,  rather  a  large  mouth,  adorned  with 
line  teeth,  and  a  short  but  well  defined  chin,  may  be  given 
as  generally  characteristic  of  the  race. 

The  Quichuas  have  beautifully  soft,  thick,  and  flowing 
hair,  but  are  almost  destitute  of  beai'ds.  Their  complex- 
ion is  a  brown  olive,  entirely  distinct  from  the  reddish  or 
co})per  hue  of  most  of  the  Morth  American  Indians.  It 
ajiproaches  that  of  the  mulatto  more  nearly  than  that  of 
the  other  American  aborigines,  and  is  spoken  of  as  singu- 
larly uniform.  They  are  of  low  stature,  ])articularly  those 
who  live  in  the  more  elevated  regions.     Their  genei'ul 


N  I 


;  •  r 


!'Mt'^ 


mm' 


H 


'H 


WH,!* 


I ". 


r  •       * 


522 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


{ihysioi^MioiH}',  in  the  words  ui' llic  aiitlinr  almvi!  cited,  "ih 
upon  till!  whole,  nnilorni,  serious,  rell(!etive,  ineliinclioly, 
williout,  however,  showing  in(hllei'ene(!:  it  denotes  rather 
|>enetration  without  frankness.  ■"'  *  Their  leaturrs  altu- 
yeihcr  retain  a  mediocrity  of  expression.  The  women 
are  .schh)m  very  hand.sonic;  their  noses  art;  not  so  jiiomi- 
nent  oi' cui'ved  as  those  of  the  men:  th(!  hitter,  althon^^li 
tliey  have  no  beard,  have  a  maseuiine  expression,  derived 
from  their  strongly-maiked  features.  An  ancient  va>e, 
Avhieh  re])resents  with  striking  lidelity,  the  features  of  the. 
present  race  of  (.iuiehuas  convinces  us  that  for  four  and 
live  centuries  their  ])hysiognomy  has  undergone  no  sen- 
sible alteration," 

^riie  Aymaras,  the  second  in  the  grand  division  of  tin; 
Peruvian  races,  bear  a  close  resend)lanee  to  those;  just 
described.  In  early  times  the  strange  and  unnatural  cus- 
tom of  llattening  the  head  obtained  among  tlieni,  as  is  I'ully 
proved  by  the  contour  of  many  skulls  found  in  their 
ancient  places  of  burial  or  deposit. 

Ko  material  variation  from  the  Quichuan  bodily  form;'.- 
tion  is  noticeable  in  the  Atacamas,  who  iidiabit  the  western 
slope  of  the  Andes;  but  the  Changos,  dwelling  upon  the 
hot  levels  of  the  sea-coast,  "are  of  darker  hue:  their 
colour  is  a  tav/ny,  approaching  to  black." 

^i'he  country  inhabited  by  these  three  races,  although 
lying  within  the  tropics,  and  in  certain  localities  luxuri- 
antly rich  and  fertile,  presents  obstacles  to  the  agricultur- 
alist, whicli  would  soeni  almost  insurmountable.  Nothiriii 
but  the  whole  industry  of  a  great  nation,  directed  system- 
atically to  the  work  of  reclamation  and  improvement, 
could  ever  have  made  Peru  what  it  was  in  the  days  ot 
the  Incas. 

A  flat  and  sterile  plain,  Avashed  by  the  Pacific,  forms  the 
western  boundary  of  the  ancient  empire.  On  this  district 
rain  never  falls;  at  least,  the  few  drops  whicii  at  certain 


SOI'Til  AMKUICAN    INDIANS. 


523 


ficiuMoiis  sjiriiilvli)  tlic  sill  llicc,  iini  iii.siiirK;i('iit  to  avail  in  the 
tiligliti'st  (Ksgi'cc  for  tlio  jifoiiiolioii  of  fertility.  I""r()iii  tlu; 
.stupeiidoiis  iiiomitaiii  ranges  wliieli  cxtt'inl  in  an  nnhioken 
course  througiiont  the;  western  si-a-hoard  of  South  Aunii- 
ca,  iin[)(.'tii(nis  toi'rents  iHiiir  down  tlii'ough  iIk;  plains 
toward  tlio  sea,  and,  by  a  laborious  and  ipgenious  divci'- 
sion,  theso  streams  wei'c;  led  by  the  ancient  I'ei'uvians  in 
long  and  massive  a<|iieducts  to  ii-rigati;  the  jilain  or  tlu; 
terracH's  wrought  u[)on  the  steep  sides  of  tlii!  mountains. 
Some  mention  has  been  made,  in  a  former  chapter,  of  tin; 
I'uins  which  still  I'cmain  to  attest  the  advancement  and  en- 
teri)rise  of  the  uiicient  ]\'ruviaiis,  particularly  of  the  groat 
roads  by  which  ready  communication  was  opened  over  the 
most  rugged  and  naturally  impassable  country  in  the  world. 
A  further  description  of  some  of  these  relics  will  be  given 
hereafter,  as  connected  with  their  wonderful  system  of 
government,  and  its  effects  in  the  accomplishment  of 
public  works. 


Mexico  bad  ab'cady  fallen  into  the  hands  of  tlio  Span 
iard.s,  and  their  settlements  had  long  been  established  upon 
the  Isthmus,  before  the  world  obtained  any  knowledge 
of  the  western  coast  of  South  America.  TIkj  national 
thirst  for  gold,  only  the  more  excited  by  the  succcs.ses  in 
contest  with  the  Aztecs,  was  roused  anew  by  reports  gath- 
ered from  the  natives  of  the  Isthnnis,  of  a  far  richer  and 
more  magnificent  empire  at  the  South. 

The  first  attempt  to  explore  the  coast  to  the  southward 
had  been  made  in  1522,  by  Pascual  do  Andagoya,  but 
he  proceeded  no  further  than  the  Puerto  de  Tinas,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  small  river  Biru.  Two  years  passed 
away  without  any  further  discoveries,  at  the  end  of  which 
time,  the  matter  w?s  taken  in  hand  by  a  man  whose  cliar- 
acter  leaves  us  at  a  h^ss  whether  we  should  the  more  ad- 


i\    I: 


1^ 


^\ 


jii,; 


fl 


1         !, 


,1 


'11 


r»i. 


*   ji 


'.•k 


i   :   ii. 


'ylA 


INDIAN  HACKS  OF  AMKUK'A. 


iTiiro  lii.s  oouniLU',  fDrtitndi',  .'irnl  iiulomifalilc  ciici'i^fy,  or 
oxccrMtc  liis  cruelty  aiul  niiscnipulDiis  rnpacify.  Tliis  man 
wa.s  Kraiicisco  Pi/arro.  IK;  was,  at,  this  time,  almiit,  (Ifly 
ycMi'S  of  ji,i^(;,  tlio  la.st  ten  of  wliidi,  at  least,  lie  had  passed 
amid  the  stirring'  sceiios  of  discovery  ami  eompiest  in  the 
New  WorM.  Ho  iiad,  iiMion<^  other  ad\eiitiires,  shan'il 
the  ilaii_L(ers  aJid  the  exultation  of  \'aseo  Xu^nie/,  de  l>al- 
lioa,  in  his  first  passaee  of  the  Istlmnis,  and  his  discovery 
of  tli(!  Western  Ocean.  IK;  was  now  residinj^  m'ar 
Panama,  and  is  said  iu  have  acciunulatcd  hut  u  small 
landed  projierty  as  tlu!  reward  of  his  lon^  labors  and 
privations. 

Pix.arro  was  the  illegitimate  sou  of  a  colonel  of  infantry, 
named  Gonzalo  Pi/arro,  and  u  woman  of  low  raid;,  resid- 
ing at  '^IVuxillo,  .in  Spain,  in  which  city  the  future  con- 
fpu^ror  was  born.  In  the  great  entei'[)rise  of  the  coiupiest 
of  Peru,  he  was  associated  with  one  Diego  de  iMmagro,  a 
man  of  moi'c  uncertain  origin,  and  less  favored  bv  worldlv 
prosperity,  even  than  himself  This  companion  in  arms 
was,  at  all  events,  a  brave;  and  gallant  soldier.  Fortunately 
fi)r  the  two  adventi'rcrs,  they  succeeded  in  securing  the 
assistance  of  TIeruanv  .  de  Lurpie,  an  ecclesiastic  occupied 
in  the  (bitiesof  his  profession  at  I'anama.  With  such  funds 
as  could  be  raised  by  these  three,  a  vessel  was  ])roeure(l, 
and  about  one  hundred  men  were  enlisted  to  share  iho 
danger  and  profits  of  tlu;  expedition.  Pedrarias,  the  Sjian- 
ish  governor,  sanctioned  the  proceeding,  stipulating,  at  the 
same  time,  for  a  proportion  of  the  gold  that  should  bo 
bi'ought  home. 

In  November,  1524,  Pi/.arro  set  sail,  leaving  Almagro 
to  jireparc  another  vessel  which  they  had  purchased,  and 
to  follow  as  soon  as  possible.  Nothing  but  disaster  marked 
tliis  finst  voyage.  Storms  at  sea;  conflicts  with  natives  on 
shore;  sickness,  exposure,  and  starvation,  thinned  the  num- 
'oers  and  broke  down  the  spdrit  of  the  party.      Pizarro 


SOUTH   AMKUICAX   INDIANS. 


52; 


;> 


ftl'^io  appoiirs  to  have  maidtaiiKul  :iii  uiisliakcn  forlituik 
uiul  (IctcniiiiKition. 

No  piovisioiis  could  be  procurtd  at  tlu;  Hpofs  wlien^  the 
voyagers  laiulcil,  and  it  hccaiiic  noccssary  to  scud  tlu»  ves- 
sel back'  for  suj)j»lit\s.  About  lialf  the  coinjjatiy,  uuil(;r 
oM(5  Mouteiief^ro,  was  disj)atclii'il  [\>v  this  j)uri)ose,  K-aviug 
the  rest  ol'  the  adventui-ers  u|">ii  the  swampy,  unwlioh> 
some  coast,  not  Car  from  the  iimuth  dt'  the  l>irii,  to  support 
themselves  :is  best  tlioy  could  amid  an  almost  impenetrable 
wihh-'rncss  of  rank  tropical  ve^ivtation.  Xeai'ly  half  their 
nund)or  pcM'ished  bcU^ri!  any  relief  was  obtaine<l.  When 
at  tlio  extremity  of  disti-('ss,  the  slight  of  a  (bstant  light 
ami<l  the  forest  awaki.-ned  their  hopes,  and  I'ixarro,  with 
a  small  scouting  })arty,  led  by  this  token  of  human  habit- 
ation, penetrated  the  thicket  to  an  Indian  village.  His 
hungry  followers  seized  on  whate\'cr  ollered.  As  the  na- 
tives, who  had  at  first  lied  in  tei'roi',  gi-adi>ally  aj)proached 
and  held  communication  with  them,  their  hopes  were  again 
revived  by  the  sight  of  rude  ornaments  in  gold,  and  by 
the  confirmation  (;f  the  reports  concerning  a  rich  empire 
at  the  south. 

It  was  six  weeks  from  the  time  of  his  departure  In'fore 
^^ontenegro  returned  to  rescue  his  remaining  companions. 
With  renewed  hope  and  zeal,  the  pai1y  r('embark<;d,  and 
continued  to  coast  along  the  shore.  After  landing  at  other 
places,  and  e.\{)eriencing  .severe  encounters  with  the  war- 
like natives,  it  was  found  necessarv  to  return  to  Panama 
to  refit. 

Almagro,  in  the  mean  time,  had  followed  in  the  same 
course,  with  the  second  vessel,  and  landed  at  most  of  the 
places  visited  by  Pizarro.  He  was  .nore  successfid  in  his 
engagements  with  the  natives  than  the  first  ])arty  ha.d 
proved;  and  succeeded  in  extending  his  voyag(5  as  lar 
south  as  the  river  of  San  Juan.  At  this  place  unmistake- 
able  tokens  of  ajjproacli  to  a  well-cultivated  and  inhab- 


•i 


•X 


::  1    h  . 


1 1; 
'I " 

I  Nil 


r 


I- 


526 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


iU'd  country  prcsontod  tlicmsclvcs.  Poinding'  no  furtlicr 
traces  of  Pizurro  and  h\^  e<)in})anions,  and  supposing  that 
llicy  must  have  pcrislicd  or  have  been  cotMjtellcd  t(j  return, 
Ahnagro  now  turned  his  course  towards  Panama.  JIo 
brought  home  more  gold  and  more  favorable  repoi'ts  than 
his  partner;  but  the  disasters,  losses,  ami  miserable  con- 
dition of  the  (irst  voyagers  tended  to  throw  almost  insui'- 
mountable  obstacles  in  the  way  of  a  second  attempt. 

^i'he  three  confederates — Pizarro,  Ahuagi'o,  and  I'ather 
Luque — continued  as  sanguine  as  ever.  The  necessary 
I'linds  were  obtained  by  the  latter,  as  is  said,  of  one  (las- 
par  de  Espinosa,  in  whose  name  he  aeted,  and  in  whoso 
behalf  he  stipulated  for  one-third  of  all  returns  Avhieh 
should  result  from  a  successful  completion  of  the  innnense 
undertaking.  A  solemn  contract  was  entered  into  between 
the  ])arties,  strengthened  by  all  the  cerenionials  of  oath.s 
and  religious  services.  Neither  of  the  two  soldiers  could 
write,  and  their  signatures  were  executed  in  their  presence, 
by  the  witnesses  to  the  instrument  of  contract. 

Pedrarias  had  been  succeeded  by  Don  JVnlro  de  los  Ivios, 
and  the  new  governor  assented  to  the  second  expeditioii. 
This  was  undertaken  with  two  vessels,  carrying  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men  aiul  a  few  horses.  The  services 
of  Bartholomew  l-Juiz,  a  skilful  pilot,  were  secured.  The 
adventurers  steered  direct  for  the  mouth  of  the  San  Juan, 
and,  landing  at  an  Indian  village  ou  the  river,  obtained 
some  ]>luuder  in  gold,  and  seized  upon  the  persons  of  a 
few  of  the  natives.  The  countr}'  ajipeared  too  populous 
to  oiler  much  chance  of  success  to  such  a  small  band  of 
invader.s.  Almagro  was  therefore  sent  back  to  enlist  more 
men  at  home,  while  Ruiz,  with  the  other  vessel,  explored 
the  coast  further  to  the  south,  and  Pizarro  remained  near 
the  river,  with  a  portion  of  the  crew.  The  latter  endured 
nmch  from  famine,  exposure,  and  fatigue,  during  the  ab- 
sence of  Ruiz.    Attempting  to  penetrate  into  the  interior. 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


527 


in  hopes  of  fimling  a  more  open  coiintrv,  tlicy  were  com- 
pUitelj  worn  down  and  dispirited. 

The  pilot,  ill  the  mean  time,  hail  made  liis  way  far  south- 
ward. He  had  crossed  the  equatc^r,  and  touched  at  s(>voral 
places,  where  the  dense  jiopulation  and  well-built  dwell- 
ings gave  proofs  of  no  little  advaiiceinent  in  eiviii/iition. 
He  brought  with  him  scvci'al  Indian  jifisoni.Ts,  taken  ;it 
sea,  upon  one  of  the  rude  boats,  or  rai^ei-  rafts,  called 
"balsas,"  in  which  thev  were  vovasj-iun;.  Some  of  these 
were  from  the  jioil  of  Tumbez,  and  their  nuirvellous  ac- 
counts of  the  quantities  of  gold  ;ind  silver  used  by  their 
monarch,  roused  anew  the  cupiility  of  the  Sjianiards. 

Alma'H'o  soon  after  arrived  with  mnnei-ous  fresh  re- 
cruits,  and,  what  with  the  glowing  re[)orts  of  Ivuiz,  and 
tills  addition  to  their  Ibrce,  the  weakened  and  desjinii-ing 
followers  of  Pizari'o  regained  their  l()rmer  hopes  ;inil  e()ni-- 
aijfe.  The  wdiolc  comiiany  a^^ain  set  sail  f  )r  the  land  of 
promise.  At  Tacames,  near  the  mouth  of  lli(>  S;mti;iud, 
where  the  present  town  of  I'lsmeraldas  is  situateil,  the 
flourishing  a})}ieai"ance  of  tlu^  countiy  invited  the  voyngers 
to  land;  but  they  wei'c  oj^posed  by  thousands  of  armed 
natives,  who  attacked  them  with  givat  fuiy.  It  was  snp- 
posed  that  all  the  Christians  must  lur.e  pei'i-hed  in  this 
onslaught,  but  for  a  strancre  mistake  on  the  i)art  of  tin; 
Indians.  A  few  of  the  Spaniards  were  mounted  upon 
horses — a  si^lit  never  before  witn(>ssed  in  Pei'U — and  one 
of  the  cavaliers  happening  to  fall  from  his  horse,  the  In- 
dians su])posed  that  a  single  enemy  had  become  two.  The 
horse  and  his  rider  were  taken  for  but  one  animal,  and  the 
confusion  and  amazement  caused  by  the  sight  of  such  • 
prodigious  separation,  gave  the  Spaniards  an  opportunity 
to  retreat. 

It  was  plain  that  a  greater  force  was  necessary  to  make 
any  a  Ivantageous  progress  in  the  new  empire,  and  again 
was  one  of  the  little  vessels  sent  back  to  Panama  for  riiin- 


fi' 


I  - 


'»   i 


•  lit 


y»;  i 


%<  ■    I 


:  !<l 


I 


*!■■    '■.     \\ 


Ik  11 


%  Ji;i 


wf/mm 


is 


1.1 


1  .  <-;, 


m 


■  i"';. 


i 


il 


523 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


for(,'(MiicnlH,  while  PizMrro  and  a  poilioii  of  liis  forces  took 
11])  their  quarters  upon  the  little  islaml  of  Gallo.  ^J'hcj 
Hullerc'l  every  extremity  before  supplies  reaehed  them 
frcjm  the  noilh,  a"d  when  two  vessels  loaded  with  stores 
made  their  appearance,  there  was  a  general  cry  for  return. 

ri/carro,  fortified  in  his  detenni nation  by  encouraging 
letters  from  his  allies,  harangued  his  followers,  and  gave 
them  their  free  choice  whether  to  go  forward  in  search  of 
fame  and  wealth,  or  to  return  in  poverty  and  disgrace  to 
Panama.  Thirteen  only  had  the  resolution  to  proll'er  their 
further  services.  The  conimandcr  of  the  store-ships,  who 
was  instructed  bv  the  governor  to  bring  back  the  i^artv, 
refused  to  leavj  either  of  his  vessels  for  the  use  of  these 
few  valorous  spirits,  and,  grudgingly  bestowing  upon  them 
a  j)ortion  of  his  provisions,  set  sail,  leaving  them,  fis  wiis 
su])posed,  to  certain  destruction. 

Upon  this  ish'ind,  and  upon  that  of  Gorgona,  twenty-five 
leagues  to  the  northward,  (whither  they  migrated  on  a  raft, 
for  better  quarters,)  the  little  party  spent  seven  miserable 
and  solitary  months.  By  great  exertions,  Ahnagro  ami 
Luquc  procured  another  vessel,  and  the  go;  ernor's  per- 
mission to  relieve  their  associates;  but  this  was  not  ob- 
tained without  a  positive  injunction  to  Pizarro  to  return 
within  six  months.  No  recruits  w^re  taken  on  board, 
beyond  the  necessarv  crew  of  the  vessel.  Puiz  had  eharue 
of  the  craft,  and  th(>  sight  of  its  approach  soon  gladdened 
the  desponding  hearts  of  the  destitute  and  half-famished 
expectants  at  Gorgona. 

Without  hesitation  the  little  band  stood  once  more  for 
the  south,  leaving  two  of  their  number  ill  on  the  island, 
in  charge  of  some  of  the  friendly  natives,  who  wei'e  still 
detained  in  their  company.  After  twenty  days'  sail,  in 
■which  they  passed,  without  landing,  the  spots  of  former 
exploration,  tho  vessel  entered  the  unknown  gulf  of 
Guayaquil. 


SOUTU  AM  ERIC  AX  INDIANS. 


529 


As  the  Spaniards  directed  tlieir  counse  to^vards  tlie  city 
of  ^rumbc/:,  the  residence  of  the  Indian  ca})tives,  they  (;n- 
countered  many  natives,  in  tlie  balsas  which  serve<l  ilicni 
for  boats.  ^J'hesc  strange  craft  were  made  of  K'gsof  ]i;^ht 
•wood,  secured  together,  and  fitted  willi  masts  and  s:iils. 
The  crews  of  these  rafts,  in  the  midst  of  their  aiii;i:',emtut 
at  the  prodigy  before  their  eyes,  recognized  the  Indians  on 
board,  and  Icarnini^  from  tl  em  tliat  the  strannci's  wero 
bound  merely  upon  exploration,  returned  to  satisfy  the 
curiosit}'  of  the  eager  crowds  gathered  upon  the  shore 

A  peaceful  communication  was  soon  cstabli-hed,  and  the 
sea-wearied  S})aniards  were  refreshed  by  bountiful  s"])[ilies 
of  th(5  troj>ical  luxuries  furnished  Ity  the  kindly  natives. 
Llamas,  or  Peruvian  camels,  as  they  were  called,  were  now 
for, the  first  time  exhibited  and  offered  to  the  visitoi's.  A 
great  noble,  ot  the  royal  race  of  the  Incas,  came  on  board, 
and  was  courteously  entertained  by  Pizarro,  who  pointe(l 
out  and  explained  the  mysteries  of  the  vesst-l  and  its 
accoutrements. 

The  ofTicers  of  the  Spanish  company  were,  in  turn, 
feasted  at  the  house  of  the  curaca,  or  goveriior  of  the 
province,  and  were  shown  the  royal  temple  and  f)i'tiesses. 
Some  of  the  apartments  were  adorned  with  sudi  a  rich 
profusion  of  massive  golden  ornaments  and  plating,  thai 
the  dazzled  Spaniards  now  trusted  in  the  speedy  realiza- 
tion of  their  long-deferred  hopes. 

From  Tumbez,  Pizarro  coasted  southward  as  far  as  the 
island  and  port  of  Santa,  some  distance  beyond  the  site  of 
the  present  Truxillo,  stoj)p!ng  at  various  towns  and  settle- 
ments on  his  route.  I'hc  strangers  v.  ere  every  wdiere  re- 
ceived with  hospicality,  kii\dncss,  and  the  most  lively 
curiosity,  and  enough  was  seen  fully  to  convince  them  of 
the  richness,  civilization,  and  prosperity  of  the  thickly 
po])ulated  empire. 

PiCtuining  to  Panama,  they  again  stopped  at  Tumbez  and 
U 


:r*vy 


n 


iiM 


i;! 


■  •! 


H 


■iiil  ■ 


1  i    !■ 


■iS 


r 


in 


Li' 


ii .' 


1  P'j.-^         ' 


f.  "f 


ft'  i' '' 


lii;! 


Hf 


%' 


ti 


n 


530 


INDIAN   liACES  OF  AMElllCA. 


otlicr  important  })orts,  and  tlienco  Lronglit  away  specimens 
of  tlie  productions  of  tlie  country;  among'  other  things,  a 
number  of  llamas.  At  their  own  recjuest,  several  of  iho 
Spaniards  were  left  at  Tumbez,  to  enjoy  the  luxury  and 
case  which  seemed  to  he  ofl'ered  by  a  life  among  the  kindlv 
natives.  A  3'oung  Peruvian,  named  I'elipillo,  with  one  (ir 
two  companions,  was  taken  on  board  the  vessel,  that  h(! 
might  be  instructed  in  the  Spanish  language,  and  that  lii.s 
ap{)earance  might  satisfy  the  increduhjus,  at  Ikmuc,  "s  tu 
the  character  of  the  inhabitants  of  Peru. 

The  troubles  of  the  enterprising  trio  to  whom  these  dis- 
coveries were  owing  were  not  yet  at  an  end,  'J'he  derision 
and  contumely  which  had  tended  so  long  to  darnj)  tlnlr 
spirits,  was,  indeed,  changed  to  congratulations  and  ea^^cr 
astonishment  at  the  return  aiid  reports  of  Pi/arro;  but  llio 
governor  frowned  upon  the  prosecution  of  the  enterpiise. 
"lie  did  not  wish,"  says  IleiTcra,  "to  depopulate  his  own 
district  in  order  to  people  new  countries"— the  gold,  silver, 
and  sheep  which  had  been  exhibited,  seemed  to  him  Imt 
a  paltry  return  for  the  expenditure  of  such  an  amount  of 
lives  and  money,  and  the  endurance  of  such  har(lshi}ts.and 
suffering  as  were  the  fruits  of  the  first  exj)editions. 

Before  continuing  the  account  of  the  steps  by  which  lln' 
great  wovl:  of  conquest  was  finally  achieved,  it  will  be  \\v\\ 
to  take  a  brief  view  of  the  condition  of  the  devoted  countiy 
at  the  period  of  its  discovery. 

The  two  great  monarchies  of  ^Nfexico  and  Peru,  both  fif 
them  in  a  state  of  semi-civilization  at  the  period  of  Span- 
ish discoveries  and  conquests,  are  closely  associated  in  our 
minds.  The  thoughts  of  one  naturally  suggests  that  of  the 
other.  We  shall,  however,  find,  upon  an  examination  of 
history,  that  these  na.tions  were  widely  dissimilar:  neither, 
in  all  human  probability,  had  any  knowledge  of  the  oth('i'"s 
existence,  and  no  intercourse  could  have  been  maintained 
betwoun  thorn  from  a  period  of  the  most  remote  antiquity 


SOUTH  AMKUU'AX  INDIANS. 


531 


Without  going  into  n  direct  comparison  Lotwcen  tlicse 
countries,  tlicir  respective  governments,  religion,  and  na- 
tional customs,  we  sliall  enter  sunicientlv  into  particulars 
in  treating  the  })resent  suhject,  to  give  the  reader  vsuch  a 
general  idea  of  its  details  that  he  can  hims(;lf  perceive  the 
contrasts  and  dissimilarities  above  mentioned. 


CHAPTER   II. 

MYTH'M.OGICAI-    TRADITIONS — TOPA    I.NTA    VCl'ANQUl,  AND    HIS    SON 

HUAYNA  CAPAC — THF,  I'KKUVIAN  CAI'ITAI, — liKI.IGlOlJS  SYSTEM 

GOVERNMENT A(;iiARIAN    LAW LLAMAS rUHLK;   RECORDS: 

THE  ''QUIPLT  " AGRICULTURE M  AKRI  A(;  KS WARLIKE  POL- 

ICY   OF    THE    INCAS THE    GREAT    ROAHS CONTENTMENT 

OF  THE  NATIVES DIVISION  OF  THE  E.MI'IRE:    HUASCAR 

AND  ATAHUALLPA — CONTEST  FOR    SUPREMACY. 

According  to  Peruvian  mythology,  the  whole  country 
was,  in  early  times,  as  savage  and  barbarous  as  the  neigh- 
boring nations  of  the  East.  Maneo  Ca])ae,  and  his  sister 
and  wife.  Mama  Oello  Ifuaco,  two  children  of  the  Sun, 
settling  in  the  valley  of  Cuzco,  began  the  work  of  regen- 
eration. They  taught  the  arts  of  civil i/ed  life,  and  from 
them  sprang  the  long  line  of  the  Tncas  whose  glorious 
kingdom  was  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity  w4ien  discov- 
ered by  the  Spaniards.  Other  traditions,  more  worthy  of 
study  and  reflection,  speak  of  ^^  bearded  ivhite  incri,^^  to  whose 
immigration  the  commencement  of  improvement  was  due. 

We  gather  little  of  connected  or  reliable  tradition  earlier 
than  the  reign  of  Topa  Inca  Yupanqui.  This  monarch's 
victories  widely  extended  the  domai " .  bequeathed  him  by 
his  ancestors.  By  liis  warlike  achievements,  and  those  of 
his  son,  ITuayna  Capae,  the  Peruvian  empire  was  extended 
from  the  southern  portion  of  Chili  to  the  boundaries  ol  the 


i   hi 


lii  •  r 


.:  ■  i; 


's   i^S: 


it 


-  'M'    \i'*-  . 


'Ill 


tela  II  '  •■''  n 


W. 


.  'ih- 

■4.ir  >;  ■ 

Jf  i.: 

^^^M^h 


j.h  ■' 


1 


*■ '. 


532 


INDIAN  KACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


present  re];)ul)lic  of  New  Gninada.  The  centre  of  govcni- 
rneiit,  :iiul  site  of  the  royal  j)alaee,  tlie  ;^reat  temple  of  the 
sun,  and  the  most  celebrated  fortifieation,  were  at  Ciixeo,  in 
the  interior.  Tli'.  town  was  situated  in  u  valley  of  tli(! 
tabledand,  at  an  inunense  height  aV)ove  the  level  of  tlio 
Bca,  an  altitude  which  secured  to  it  a  delightful  climate  in 
tliosc  tropical  regions. 

The  2jrincij)al  buildings  of  the  capital  were  of  hewn 
iStone,  wrouglit  cntirc^ly  by  instruments  of  copper,  hard- 
ened by  an  alloy  of  tin;  for,  lik(!  the  Mexicans,  the  people 
of  Peru  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  use  of  iron.  A  cer- 
tain perfection  of  workmanship,  seldom  atteni[)t(Ml  in  more 
advanced  nations,  and  only  elsewhere  observable  in  tlie 
casings  of  the  great  ]*]gyptian  jiyramids,  is  described  as 
peculiar  to  tlic  laying  of  the  courses  of  stone  in  these  an- 
cient buildings.  For  the  most  part  nc  cement  was  used, 
but  tlie  blocks  were  so  accurately  fitted  that  "it  was  im- 
possible to  introduce  even  the  blade  of  a  knife  between 
them."  Mr.  Prescott,  giving,  as  his  authority,  the  meas- 
urements and  descrii)tions  of  Acosta  and  Garcilasso,  says: 
"Many  of  these  stones  were  of  vast  size;  some  of  theni 
being  full  thirty-eight  feet  long,  by  eighteen  broad,  and 
six  feet  thick.  *  *  These  enormous  masses  were  hewn 
from  their  native  bed,  and  fashioned  into  shape  by  a  peo- 
ple ignorant  of  the  use  of  iron;  they  were  brought  from 
quarries,  from  four  to  fifteen  leagues  distant,  without  tlic 
aid  of  beasts  of  burden ;  were  transported  across  rivers 
and  ravines,  raised  to  their  elevated  position  on  the  sierra, 
and  finally  adjusted  there  with  the  nicest  accuracy,  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  tools  and  machinery  familiar  to  tlie 
European." 

At  Cuzco  stood  the  great  temple  of  the  sun,  by  far  the 
most  resplendent  with  gold  and  ornament  of  all  the  pub- 
lic edifices  of  Peru.  The  description  of  this  central  point 
of  the  religious  system  of  the  country  vies  witl.i  those  of 


SOUTH  AMEUICAN   INDIANS. 


5U3 


fairy  [)alaccs  in  Arabian  tales.  It  was  built  of  .stone,  but, 
by  a  strange  contrast  of  magnificence  with  rudeness!,  was 
tliatclied  with  straw.  Tlu;  most  striking  object  in  the  in- 
terior wfis  a  huge  golden  sun,  represented  by  the  figure  of 
a  human  face,  sui-rounded  with  ra\s.  This  was  so  placed 
as  to  receive  the  first  beams  of  the  I'ising  sun.  The  whole 
building  sparkled  with  golden  ornament;  even  nj)on  the 
outside  a  heavy  l)elt  of  gold  is  said  to  have  been  let  into 
the  stone  wall  around  the  whole  extent  of  the  cdilice. 
Great  vases  of  the  precious  metals  stood  in  the  oj)en  sj)ace 
of  the  interior,  filled  with  on'erings  of  mai/e,  and  no  less 
valuable  material  was  used  for  tht  various  tools  and  im- 
plements connected  with  the  establishment. 

'^I'his  ])rofusion  of  g(jld  and  silver,  wdiieh,  although  in 
inferior  degree,  was  noticeable  in  the  royal  palaces  and 
temples  throughout  the  ep:pii'e,  resulted  from  the  circum- 
stance that  the  mines  were  a  government  monopoly.  Xo 
money  was  used,  and  consequently  the  whole  product  of 
the  country,  in  this  line,  was  collected  in  the  eoirers  of  the 
Inca,  or  displayed  in  the  gorgeous  ornament*;  which 
adorned  the  tem[)les.  The  mines  wcvo  worke<l  by  bodies 
of  laborers  sy.stematically  drafted  from  the  common  peo- 
ple, to  serve  for  specified  periods. 

The  Peruvians  had  some  idea  of  an  invisible  deity, 
whose  supremacy  they  acknowledged,  and  to  whom  hom,- 
age  was  rendered,  but  the  sun  was  their  chief  object  of 
wor.shij).  The  moon  and  stai's  took  the  ])laee  of  subordi- 
nate divin'ties.  ]W  virtue  of  his  olhce,  the  Tnca  wis  the 
head  of  the  visible  chnrch,  and  high-j)riest  of  the  sun; 
all  the  other  religious  functionaries  were  of  the  nobility, 
vi/:  descendants  in  the  male  line  of  the  royal  family. 
One  lawful  wife  gave  birth  to  the  successor  to  th(>  throne, 
but  from  the  innumerable  concubii;>'s  kept  by  the  empe- 
ror sprang  the  race  of  Inca  nobility,  distinguished  by  dress 
and  occupation  from  the  body  of  the  people. 


:|?| 


m 


§  '• 


'kilt 


:,ii  fits 


r      I' 


liliii  1 


(ii  i 


lit 


,  .1 


:.3-i 


INDIAN   i:acks  ok  AMKKU'A. 


A  most  siiiLiiiIar  r»'MMiil)l;iiii'i>  totlic  aiicicnl  oIiKm' of  llift 
Vfstal  vii'-iiis  cxistfil  in  that  of  tlic  IV-niv  iaii  \"n',ijiiis  of 
tlu!  Sun.  Tlu'sc  wtTi;  set  apart,  at  an  early  a;it',  lin'  tlio 
siM'vircs  of  the  tcnipK',  tin'  preparations  of  its  tapestry  anil 
ornaments,  and  espeeially  for  the  pi'eser\ation  of  the  su- 
croil  iiiv.  TeiTihle  penalties  l(>llo\vtMl  ilu>  Niohnion  nf 
I'liasfity  I'V  either  of  these  devotees,  always  exeeplinu;  the 
pi'ivileucs  of  the  Inea,  to  wiiom  they  wei'e  snl)ser\  ient  as 
"hrideSj''  or  eoiu'ul)ines.  'I'lu'.  olliee  did  not  neeessarily 
eontinne  durins^  life:  many  of  these  "\'ir;^ins"  were  dis- 
misst'd  to  their  paternal  homes  from  time  to  time,  and 
were  ever  thereafter  held  in  ,>j,rt";tt'  honor  and  veneration. 
The  reliiiious  ceremonies  and  festivals  iiimiliar  to  the  na- 
tiou  wore  sinj^uhirly  numerons  and  eomplieated:  an  emi- 
moratioii  of  tluMn  would  be,  for  the  most  part,  wearisome 
and  devoid  o(  interest. 

'I'ho  Peruvian  systiMu  of  i^'overnment  merits  a  moro 
particular  attention.  Here,  lor  tlu>  lirst  time  in  the  history 
of  the  world,  wc  see  the  results  of  a  ])aternal  despotism 
carrietl  to  its  nu)st  e.\trava,i;'ant  (>\tent,  yet  n\ei'tin,Lf  the 
apparent  wants  of  the  }HH)])le,  and  universally  aequieseed 
in  and  a{)proved  by  them.  I'Vom  ^^^Mieration  tt)  generation 
the  whole  iniuss  of  the  commonalty  was  shut  out  IVoni 
any  possibility  of  change  or  improvement,  and  subjected  to 
immutable  rules  in  every  en»ployn\ent  oi"  privilege  of  life 

'Vhii  whole  empire  was  minutely  divided  and  subdivi- 
ded into  districts,  according  to  ])oj)ulation,  anil  over  each 
of  these  departments  a  curaca  or  governor  was  set  to  main- 
tain law.  The  penal  code  was  sulliciently  severe,  and 
rigidly  enforced;  \n  all  matters  of  private  right  there  was 
no  room  for  coute  "on  among  tlu;  i-iti/ens,  as  the  state 
prescribed  every  ni.  ;  jdace  of  residence,  the  amount  and 
nature  of  his  employment,  and  the  provision  necessary  for 
his  support. 

The  government  assumed  the  entire  ownership  of  the 


rJ 


r    I; 


SOrTH  AMKRK'AX   INDIANS. 


soil,  wliicli  was  (1ivi(li'(l  into  three  ]»arts  fnr  lli(>  lollwwii:'.* 
uses:  The  first  was  set  apai'f  to  sn|i]i()rt  the  wliole  exten- 
sive system  of  reliijioii ;  the  second  sustaiue(l  the  roval 
eoiirt,  ami  Ciii'iiished  the  "ei\il  list"  i'<>':  tlie  aeeoniplish- 
iiieiit  ()('  all  |ml)lie  works,  atiil  to  (IdVav  the  em'reiit  ex- 
penses of  tlu>  eirpire;  and  the  third  was  yearly  <livided 
anictn,^:^  lln^  pei)ple.  'i'he  appoi'tionnunit  was  made  ti)  each 
family,  aeeordinj^  to  its  munbers,  and.  uidess  some  <xooc] 
cause  should  app(>ai'  to  the  contrary,  it  is  sujipoS(>(I  that  tin; 
same  sjKtt  was  continncil  in  tlie  possi'ssion  of  its  proprie- 
tor IVom  yi\ir  to  year.  Tlu^  ]inlili(!  domains  wcr''  culti- 
vated liy  the  jH'ople  mi  mass,  and,  in  the  manaiii'ment  of 
the  ]>rivate  allotments,  viu'ilant  care  was  taken,  Ly  the 
appropriate  (^Hieers,  that  no  one  should  he  idli\  no  one 
over-l)urdened  with  lali(»r,  and  no  one  in  a  state  of  sud'er- 
imr  from  want. 

The  only  heast  of  burden  in  Peru  was  the  llama.  The 
immense  herds  of  this  animal  W(>re,  without  exci^ption, 
the  {U'0}>«>rty  of  the  st;ite,  ami  under  the  mana,L'r,nent  of 
government  oHieials.  Tiu' wool  and  haii'ofthe  llatna  fur- 
nished the  most  important  material  ibr  the  clothing  of  the 
wliole  popidation,  but  before  it  reached  its  ultimate  desti- 
nation it  must  ]>ass  through  tlu^  hands  of  appointed  agents, 
and,  i\l\ov  the  st^paration  and  jweparation  of  the  poriion 
devi)ted  to  religious  and  I'oyal  juiri)oses,  be  equitably  ])ar- 
celled  out  and  distributed  among  the  private  familii\s.  The 
niannfaeture  of  elotli  was  more  cspeeially  the  business  of 
women  and  cluldrcn,  Xo  man  luid  the  power  to  choose 
his  own  cmj^loyment.  A  select  nuiidjer  of  artisans  were 
set  apart  and  instructed  in  such  mechanical  sciences  as 
were  known  to  the  age  and  countrv,  while  the  mass  of  the 
population  were  emph^ycd  in  agricultural  labors,  or,  by  a 
systematic  apportionment  among  the  different  districts,  were 
engaged  upon  the  vast  works  of  public  utility  or  magniii- 
cencc  which  astonished  the  eyes  of  the  Spnuiisli  invaders. 


•<   ^'iiiii 


m  If 


'!M#1 


:  I-  i, 


I'll' 


i 


536 


INDIAN    UACr.S  or  A.MKUICA. 


'^riic  most  oxiict  aecouiils  won;  k(;|)t,  Uy  ccrtiiiii  a]i|)i)iiifc(l 
ofTiccfs,  of  ilic  entire  jiii|)iil;iti()ii  and  resources  of  the  em- 
pire. N'm  liiitli,  niarriag'',  or  ileiitli,  was  sulVei^M]  to  jiass 
tiiielu'onieled,  and  an  inniiensc;  amount  of  statisticid  matter, 
relative  to  the  ronilitiDii  di'  i\\o  iie<)|)Ie,  tlio  jir<iiIn('lions  (,f 
tin'  soil,  t!ie  extent  of  nianidiictures,  kv..^  was  re,i:ulai'lv  ami 
systcniatieally  retuiMUMJ  to  tin;  pi'iJixM-  department.  T!io 
sulistilute  II »r  wi'iting,  by  \vhi(;li  tlie.se  results,  and  e\(«u 
mueli  more  abstract  ])articulars  (a.s  of  dates  and  liistoilcaj 
events),  were  ])ei'j)etuat»>d,  wa.s  exceedingly  ingenious  and 
uidtiue.  It  ('(insisted  of  llie  "(juipu,"  viz:  a  cord  of  strands 
vai'}ing  in  color,  fi'om  which  dej)ended  nuniei'ons  short 
threads  at  regular  distancies.  A  series  of  knots  in  tlie.^o 
ajjpeiidages  (which  wen^  like  the  sti'ands  of  the  maineoi'd, 
of  vai'ious  colors)  served  to  expi-ess  any  amount  in  num- 
l)er.s,  and  the  ditle-renee,  in  hue  desigiuitcd  tlic  s.diji'ct  to 
wliicdi  they  were  ap[)lied.  The  endh'ss  cond)inations  which 
could  be  effected  in  this  system  of  knots  miglit,  as  we  can 
readily  })erceive,  be  extended  to  the  expression  of  a  verv 
wide  range  of  ideas.  In  the  words  of  Mr.  Presi-o!t:  "The 
peculiar  knot,  or  color,  in  this  way  (by  association)  sug- 
gested what  it  could  not  venture  to  r(^i)i'csent;  in  the  same 
manner — to  b(M'r()w  the  homely  illustrati(Mi  of  an  o'd 
writer — as  the  nundn.'r  of  the  Commandment  calls  to  mind 
the  Commandment  itself  *  *  *  'J'lie  narrative  thus 
conco(;ted  c(juld  be  communicated  oid}-  by  oral  ti'aditioa; 
but  the  qui})us  served  the  chronicler  to  arrange  the  inci- 
dents with  method,  and  to  refresli  his  memory." 

In  some  of  the  sciences,  ])articularlv  in  astronoinv,  tlie 
Peruvians  were  far  behind  the  A/.tecs.  A  few  simple  oh- 
servatious  of  the  movements  of  the  planets;  and  the  meas- 
urement of  shadows  to  mark  the  solstices,  equinoxes,  c^c, 
fornuul  the  limit  of  their  speculations  or  experiments.  In 
tlu!  more  practical  and  necessary  arts  (jf  husbandrv  and 
agriculture,  not  even  the  laborious  and  patieni  j)opulatiun 


r^ 


HOUTII  AMKinCAN    INDIANS. 


t  )tj  I 


of  Cliina  could  (\\cel  tlic  siil>j(H-ts  of  the  li, cus.  'I'lio  ex- 
tent of  tlio  a('((U('(liicfs,  to  i'oikIiicI  tin;  iiiiuiit;ilii-sti'(  imi.s 
through  th(!  arid  liclds  wliciv  lain  iicsri'  IMI;  tin;  iiiiuiiMisc 
excavations  made  to  yr:\r\\  a  nioi.-t  soil,  fil'trcu  dp  twenty 
feet  liiilow  the  sui'liiee;  aii<l  oIIhi'  iii:,L:lity  Uiideriakiii,L'.-i 
wliieli  individual  eutci'|vii.-i'  eould  iicNcr  lia\<'  a<'e(Uiiiili.-li- 
cil,  cN-iiice  tli(!  ('(Vccts  that  a  cuiiiiilrtt^  ccul  l'aii/.atii>ii  of 
power  eati  jji'oducc.  Were  it  iiot  I'oi'  the  iiiiiis,  of  wliicii 
iiiodei'n  travellers  ,L!'i\-f  \is  nie:isni(iiiciil  ai:d  dt'sri'iptioM,  we 
sli(.iuld  1)(!  tempted  to  tliiow  aside  the  cai-jy  liistm'irs  of 
I'eruN'ian  aehievenictits  as  ^toss  eNai'gei'ations.  Thi'  use 
of  guano  lor  manure  was  common,  and  the  gathering 
and  ap})li''ation  of  it  wei'c  in  accoidance  with  rigid  and 
careful  regulations.  'Iho  d(>strnction,  or  cvi'ii  the  disturb- 
anec  of  the  l/irds  to  whom  the  foi'mation  is  owing,  was 
punished  by  death.  A  plough  was  usimI  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  land,  hut  it  was  I'udcly  and  simply  ('(tiistructed  of 
wood,  and  was  foi'eed  thi'ough  the  earth  hy  human  thews 
and  sinews.  The  uneipndled  diversity  in  soil  ami  climate 
])rovided  suitable  localities  (bi-  a  \-aiicty  in  \'''g.'iahle  pi'o- 
ductions  seldom  seen  within  the  same  limits.  I'ananas, 
Tntban  corn,  potatoes,  a  gi'aiu  called  ([uinoa,  and  many 
other  w(dl-known  crops,  were  successfully  cultivated.  'J'ho 
desire  for  stimulants  and  narcotics,  so  universal  to  man- 
kind, was  satisfied  by  a  liquor  brewed  i'rom  ruai/e,  by  to- 
bacco, and  by  the  coca  or  euca,  whose  leaves  jtossess  sonic- 
thing  of  the  sedative  qualities  oi  the  latter  jdant. 

We  have  mentioned  the  control  e,\crcised  by  the  gov- 
ernment over  the  private  aflairs  of  every  citizen:  ihis 
extended  even  to  the  ties  of  afhnity.  Every  person  was 
required  to  marry  at  an  appointed  age,  (eighteen  in  females, 
and  twenty-four  in  males,)  and,  although  a  certain  (kgrce 
of  choice  was  left  to  the  individual  in  the  s(>l.'cti(.)n  of  a 
]iartner,  it  must  be  confined  within  a  sjiecified  disti'ict  ()V 
community.     The  Inca  always  married  his  sister,  that  the 


I 

('     ^ 

•  ! 

^1  .« 

t  :.   ! 


M    I 


i  ! 


ly^'i 


m 


11 


o;J8 


INDIAN  IIACK.S  OF  AMIMtU'A. 


pui'ity  ul'  iho  royal  l)lo()il  mi^iit  not  hi;  CDUtainiiiatcil,  bui 
BUt'li  a  I'lHiiR'ctioii  was  lorltitltk'H  l)C'l\V('cu  any  ol' lower  rank, 
Altlioii;,;^li  tlif  mass  of  llif  |MM>jilc  wnc  roiistaiitl V  em- 
ployed  ill  till,'  operations  ol'peaeernl  liushanilry,  the  jH)li('y 
ul'  tlu;  Inea  ilymisty  towauls  nei;4lilM>rin;!,'  nations  \va.-j 
cssoiitially  warlike.  'I'lie  youth  of  the  iioliility,  and  esjie- 
ciully  the  |)i'esuni]itive  heii'  to  the  throne,  were  inslriieteil 
HI  the  arts  ul'  war,  and  suWjected  to  a  routine  of  hodily 
exci'ciso  and  trials  ul' lortit  nde  not  unlike  that  pra<'tised  hy 
the  ruder  nations  «)i'  Murth  Ameriea,  in  the  initiatiun  uf 
their  I'utnru  warriurs. 

An  extensive  militia  systeiu  was  enforced,  ;ind,  in  tinio 
of  War,  iroo[is  were  drafted  IVoni  the  diU'ereiit  districts  in 
some  ))rojioilion  to  the  ]M)|Mihitioii;  l'i';j;ird  lu'in^'  li;id  to 
the  hardihood  and  ent'r^ny  of  the  \arions  races,  in  luakiiig 
the  levy.  Axes,  lanees,  dnrts,  hows  aud  arrows,  and  slings, 
formed  the  prineipal  weapons  ol'  oll'ence.  The  soldiers 
were  also  supj)lied  with  the  (piilted  eoats  of  sueli  eomnioii 
use  ill  past  ages,  to  wanl  oil' arrows  and  sword-thrusts,  and 
with  helmets  of  skins  ur  wood. 

The  gretit  roads,  led  along  the  mountain  ridges,  or  hy 
the  level  jilain  of  the  sea-eoast,  furnished  ready  iia'ans  of 
transit  to  the  royal  armies  throughout  the  extent  of  the 
empire.  Kiiough  ol'  these  yet  remains  to  exeite  the  ad- 
miration of  every  traveller.  Of  the  prineipal  of  these 
roads,  ^Ir.  Prescott  speak.s  as  follows:  "It  was  eon(hicted 
over  pathless  sierras  buried  iu  snow;  galleries  were  cut 
for  leagues  throuiih  the  hvinic  rock;  rivers  were  erosscd 
by  means  of  bridges  that  hung  sus[)eiided  in  the  air;  jire- 
ci])iees  were  sealed  by  stairways  hewn  out  of  the  native 
bed;  ravines  of  hideous  depth  were  filled  np  with  solid 
raasonrv;  in  short,  all  the  dillieultics  that  bcsot  a  wild  ami 

1/7  7 

mountainous  region,  and  whieh  might  appall  the  most 
courageous  engineer  of  modern  times,  were  eneountered 
and  successfully  overcome.     The  length  of  the  road,  vl 


J' 


r,. 


SOl.'TII  AMKUK'AN  INDIANS. 


589 


wlii.'li  sciittcrcvl  I'rM'riiuMit.s  only  rfinaiii,  is  vai-iouslv  csti- 
iiiulcd  from  tilloeii  liuii(lfc(l  to  two  tliousuiid  miles. "     No 
cc'lrl)i'iite(l  eoii4U(M'(»r  of  tlic  old  world  evor  pursued  such 
|)(!i'li'';t  system  ami  metinMl  iu  the  eoiiduel  of  a  eam[iaigu 
as  did  till!  Tiieas.     Stations  lor  eouriers  were  liuilt  at  re^'U- 
lai'  iuterviils  thnjuglioul  the  main  routes,  \>y  means  of  u  lui'li 
messages    or    light   burdens  ('ouid  he  eon\'e_vetl   with   in- 
crt'diblo  celerity  to  any  re(iuired  di.-tance.     Granai  ies  and 
storediouses  lilled  with  su{i[»lies  I'ov  the  army  stood,  under 
care  of  appointed  ollieers,  at  eonvenient  intervals,  and  all 
these   i)i'ovi.si<jnH  and   supjilies  bi'ing  Turnished   rr( )iii   the 
state  funds,  no  man  felt  them  as  iiii  extraordinary  buiden. 
A  strange  but  sagacious  policy  was  (observed  towards  a 
eoiKpieivd  nation.     'J'lu^  l*eruvian  worship  of  the  sun  was 
I    inmiediately  inirodueed;  all  the  laws  of  the  empire  were 
enforced,  and  its  customs  established;  but,  that  the  yoke 
might   not  be  too  galling,  the   i)rivileges  as  well  as  iluj 
duties  of  u  subject  were  extended  to  the  eomiuered  peoj)le. 
The  form(M'  nobles  and  governcM's  were  not  uneommoidy 
continued  iu  olliee,  and  a  j)aternal  cai'c  was  taken  of  the 
necessities  and  interests  of  the  wdiole  }K)])ulaee.      With  all 
thi.s,  no  steps  were  omitted  which  would  tend  to  completely 
denationalize  the  newly-ac(piii'e(l  eountry.     Jiai'ge  colonies 
of  Peruvians  were  trausj)lanted  from  tlu'ir  cnvn  eounliy  to 
the  new,  and  their  ])laces  su|)})lied  by  an  eipud  nund)erof 
those  whose  habitations  they  occupied.     The  language  of 
the  conrpierors  was  every  wdiere  introduced,  and  its  use 
encouraged  until,  with  the  lapse  of  years,  a  complete  as- 
similation was  bnnight  about. 

All  this  com})lete  course  of  despotism  was  said  by  the 
Si)anish  historians,  who  wrote  fi'om  obser\  ation,  and  be- 
fore the  old  order  of  things  was  entii-ely  overtui'ned,  to  be 
precisely  that  which  w^as  best  ada])ted  to  the  reruvian 
race,  and  to  the  country  and  climate  which  they  inhabited. 
The  people  were  contented  Nvilh  their  lot,  and  looked  upon 


!      I" 


!• 


;lj_; 

Ki 

x 


^'\v., 


b      ■ 

♦  ■;  ^ 

\ 

k     1 

«• 

m.., 

i      '  ■ 

1; 

r ' 

4\ 

i 

n1 


5i0 


INDIAX  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


their  priests  and  rulers  witli  tlie  utmost  reverence.  "  Xc 
man  could  be  rich,"  says  Prcscott,  "no  man  could  be  poor, 
m  Peru;  but  all  might  enjoy,  and  did  enjoy,  a  competence. 
Ambition,  avarice,  the  love  of  change,  the  morbid  sj)irit 
of  discontent,  those  passions  which  most  agitate  the  minds 
of  men,  found  no  place  in  the  bosom  of  the  Peruvian.  ■'•  * 
He  moved  on  in  the  same  unbroken  circle  in  which  hi.s 
fathers  had  moved  before  him,  and  in  which  his  childieu 
were  to  lollow." 

AVe  c.innot  help  a  feeling  of  natural  regret  that  tlie 
ruthless  invasion  of  the  Spaniards  should  have  uprooted 
all  these  ancient  and  venerated  customs.  There  was  not, 
as  with  the  Aztecs,  a  bloody  system  of  religion,  whose 
annihilation  could  reconcile  us  to  almost  any  vi(jlcnce  on 
the  part  of  those  who  came  to  overturn  it.  There  wen^, 
indeed,  occafional  scenes  of  iiuman  sacrifice  at  the  great 
religion?  .solemnities;  but  these  were  the  exception,  not 
the  rule.  The  people  at  large  lived  on  in  peace  and 
quietness,  contented  with  the  government  and  institutions 
under  whose  influence  they  lived,  and  b}''  whose  care  th>  y 
were  secured  in  the  possession  of  the  competencies  of  life. 

We  have  alread}"  mentioned  the  succes.ses  and  conquests 
of  Tupac  Yupanqui,  and  his  son  Iluayna  Capac.  The 
latter  prince,  having  reduced  the  kingdom  of  Quito,  the 
modern  p]quador,  took  up  his  residence  at  its  cajntul,  and 
devoted  his  attention  to  beautifying  his  acquisition,  and 
establishing  the  Peruvian  policy  upon  a  firm  basis  through- 
out its  limits. 

"^riie  finst  expeditions  of  the  Spaniards  to  the  Peruvian 
coast,  took  place  during  the  latter  years  of  this  moinireh, 
and  the  accounts  are  said  to  have  filled  his  mind  with 
gloomy  forebodings  of  the  overthrow  of  his  empire.  His 
sagacious  perception  readily  recognized  the  vast  superi- 
ority over  his  own  nation,  evident  in  the  vessels,  arms, 
intelligence,   and    enterj)rise  of  the  strangers.      ITuayna 


SOtJTU  AMERICAN  INDLVXS. 


i-n 


Ca])ac  died  about  the  year  1525,  leaving  liis  only  legitimate 
ison,  Iluascar,  the  regular  sueeessor  to  his  throne.  Instead 
of  eonlirniing  the  old  ord(,'r  of  deseent,  the  king's  londness 
for  another  son,  named  Atahuallpa,  (Atabalipa,  assj)ult  by 
many  old  writers)  led  him,  ujion  his  death-bed,  to  Ik'sIow 
U])on  tliis  favorite  a  portion  of  his  kingdom.  Upon  thesnb- 
version  of  the  aneient  dynasty  at  Quito,  Iluayna  Ca})ae  had 
taken  llie  daughter  of  the  last  native  piinee  as  owe  of  his 
('.(jneubines.  From  this  union  spi'ung  tiie  pi'inee  of  whom 
we  are  speaking.  The  share  of  empire  becpieathcHl  to 
Ataliuall})a  was  that  of  his  maternal  aneestoivs,  in  w  hieh 
his  father  had  so  long  resided,  and  to  whose  improvement 
he  had  devoted  his  deelining  years.  The  rest  of  the  wide 
domains  of  Peru  were  left  in  possession  of  lluasear. 

This  new  order  of  things  produeed  no  evil  effects  for 
about  five  years.  lluasear  maintained  his  eourt  at  the 
old  eapital,  Cuzeo,  while  Atahuallpa  reinained  at  Quito; 
neither  interfering  with  the  othei''s  I'ights  of  jurisdiction. 
Their  respective  subjects  readily  ac(|uiesced  in  the  new 


arrangement. 


Different  accounts  are  given  of  the  first  causes  of  ru[)- 
ture  between  the  brothers;  but  whatever  occasioned  it, 
the  contest  which  ensued  was  bloody  and  disastrous  in  tlie 
extreme.  JUit  for  the  distiirbv'd  and  disti  acted  state  of  the 
cnipii'C  consequent  upon  this  civil  war,  it  would  have  been 
utterly  impossible  for  the  Spaniards,  with  the  ins.'gnifieant 
force  wiiieli  they  finally  brought  into  the  field,  to  have 
overcome  and  subverted  such  an  immense  and  power- 
ful em[)ire. 

4'he  first  important  engagement  between  tlic  amies  of 
the  contending  princes  took  place  at  Ilambata,  ahcut 
sixty  league^  south  from  (^uito.  In  this  battle,  llu;ise;ir's 
forces  were  utterly  defeated,  and  his  victorious  broliier 
pressed  onward  to  Tumebamba,  no  great  distance  lioin 
Tutnbez.      Tliis  city  belonged  to  Atahuallpa's  kingdom, 


I  '.    1 ,  ., 


ii  'l 


¥i 


m^^ 


■  '1  1 . 


Il 


542 


INDIAN  liACES  OF  AMERICA. 


.i:<      ' 


out  tho  inhabitants  had  taken  up  arms  in  favor  of  Ilurus- 
car.  In  vain  did  they  sue  for  mercy  from  tlio  conqujror: 
tlic  wliolc  district  was  ravaged,  and  all  male  adults  wrrc 
put  to  death.  Proceeding  on  his  march,  Atahuallpa 
readied  Caxamalca,  where  he  took  up  his  quarters,  and 
sent  forward  the  chief  portion  of  his  army  to  meet  the 
forces  ])repared  for  the  protection  of  the  ancient  capital 
of  I'cru. 

A  bloody  and  desperate  battle  was  fought  near  the  city, 
in  which  the  invader  was  again  completely  victoriou^s. 
]Iuascar  was  taken  prisoner,  and  placed  in  close  confine- 
ment, but  his  brother  had  enou.,L  of  natural  humanitv  to 
order  that  all  respect  shouU.  ^h'>  shown  him  in  his  fallen 
fortunes.  If  we  are  to  believe  some  accounts,  Atahuallpa 
sullied  the  fame  which  his  successes  might  have  acquired 
him,  by  acts  of  the  most  unheard-of  barbarity.  It  is  said 
that  he  put  to  death,  and  that  too  by  lingering  tortures, 
all  of  the  royal  family  upon  whom  he  could  lay  his  hands, 
including  the  female  branches  of  the  family,  that  he  might 
cut  off  all  pos.'^"bility  of  a  rival  appear:  ig  to  contest  his 
right  to  the  throne.  Modern  historians  have  pointed  out 
so  many  discrepancies  and  improbabilities  in  the  details 
of  this  transaction,  that  they  must  be  now  considoi'cd  as 
grossly  exaggerated,  if  not  utterly  flilse. 

Atahuallpa,  now  claiming  the  title  of  Inca,  and  rejoicing 
in  the  jiossession  of  the  whole  of  the  immense  empire  of 
his  father,  held  his  court  at  Caxamalca.  In  the  midst  of 
his  exultation  and  triumph,  news  was  brought  of  a  frcsli 
arrival  of  Spanish  ships  upon  the  coast. 


M 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


CIIAl'TKU  III. 

nZARRO's  VISIT    TO    STAIN    AND    Al'I'MfATION    TO  THE    I-MPKROIl 

HIS  FOtJR  liHOTIIKKS KI'NItS    ri!(Hl-K  HI)   I'Oll   A    NKW   KX  I'KDITK  iW 

TO    PKKU — VKSSKI.S  AlIAIN   1-ITTKI)  OTT  AT  I'ANAMA I.AM)I.\(; 

OF  THE    Sl'AMAKDS    L'l'oX  TIIK  I'KIUJVIAN    COAST — I'U.'NUKIl 

AT    COAQKK THK    WAKCII     TitWAKDS    Ti;.-\I'iKZ — liATTI.KS 

ON  THK    ISLE    OF   PUNA TL'MliKZ    DESKKTEIJ SETTI.E- 

MENT  OF  SAN  iMKil'EL MAKCII    INTO  THE    INTERIOR 

PASSAGE     OF    Till-:     ANDES .MICSSAGES     FROM 

ATAHUAI.LPA ENTRY     INTO     CAXAMAIX'A. 

As  Pizarro,  Alnmgro,  and  Liiqnc,  received  no  cncour 
agemcnt  from  tlic  governor,  at  Panama,  in  the  ])rosecutioii 
of  tlieir  plans;  and  as  their  funds  were  exliausted  by  the 
first  expeditions,  it  became  necessary  to  seek  the  assistance 
of  some  powerful  patron,  or  to  abandon  the  enttM'pnse. 
In  this  emergenc}'',  I.nqne  advised  an  imnu'(li;ite  ajtplirntioi! 
to  the  S})anish  court.  In  tht;  discussion  of  the  (picslion  as 
to  wlio  sliould  undertake  this  (bity,  Almagro  strongly 
urged  the  expediency  of  trusting  the  whole  matter  to  the 
])rudence  and  S(ddierly  intrepidity  of  his  unlcltcrcil  com- 
panion-in-arms, Pi/carro.  lie  was  the  m;in  Avho  hinl  Sv'cn 
and  experienced  more  than  any  other  of  the'  nature  of 
the  hand  of  j)romise,  and  his  nnllincliing  determination 
and  perseverance  seemed  to  qualify  him  as  well  to  ])ress 
his  suit  at  court,  as  to  undergo  tin*  (hsappointments  and 
physical  hardshij^s  of  tlie  con([uest  itself. 

Pizarro  consented  to  the  ])roposal,  and  sailed  for  Sj)ain, 
where  he  arrived  earlv  in  the  siimmCi  of  1528,  carrvin<' 
with  him  specimens  of  Peruvian  art  and  wealth,  together 
with  natives  of  the  comitrv,  and  several  of  the  beasts  of 
bui'den  peculiar  to  Peru.  He  was  favorably  receivo'l,  and 
his  accounts  were  credited  by  the  Emjieror  Charles  the 
Fifth;  and  the  royal  consent  was  obtained  to  the  proseeu- 


i;i 


i: 


li;.;   '  J 


"i  I 


.    t 


m 


\h 


1 

■'  1 

^'-'■^1 

It 

rifv'^ 


54-1- 


INDIAN   ItACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


tioii  of  tlic  miglity  undertaking  of  conquest.  Xo  pcH-uniarv 
assistance,  however,  was  rendered  or  promised.  l'*r(jspcc- 
live  lionors  and  emoluments  -were  bestowed  upon  J'i/.arro 
and  his  two  ass(K'iates,  contingent  upon  their  success,  and 
the  hitter  to  be  drawn  entirely  from  tiie  conquered  luition. 
ri>^ai'i'o  was  to  be  governor,  adelantado  and  algnacil 
mayor  of  Peru,  which  olficc  he  was  to  fill  for  life,  ;iiid  \n 
whicli  a  large  sahuy  was  to  Ijc  attached.  Almagro  \v;is 
placed  in  altogether  an  inferior  position,  as  cominandcr  at 
Tumbez;  and  Fatlicr  Luquc  was  declared  Bisliop  ol"  that 
district,  now  to  be  converted  into  a  sec  of  the  cliuivli. 
One-fifth  of  the  gcjld  and  silver  to  be  obtained  by  pluiidrr, 
and  one-tenth  of  all  gained  by  mining  was  reserved  as  a 
ro3'al  perquisite. 

Pizarro  immediately  set  himself  to  raise  funds  and  enlist 
men  for  the  proposed  conquest,  lie  was  joined  by  his 
four  brothers,  one  of  whom,  Hernando  Pi/arro,  was  a 
legitimate  son  of  Gonzalo.  The  other  three,  Gonzalo  and 
Juan  Pizarro,  and  Francisco  de  Alcontara  were  illcgitiinatc 
children,  and  connected  with  the  hero  of  our  narrative, 
die  two  first  on  the  father's  side,  the  latter  on  that  of 
the  mother. 

It  was  no  easy  matter  to  provide  money  for  the  necessary 
expenses  of  so  hazardous  an  exploit  as  that  proposed;  but 
fortunately  for  Pizarro,  Hernando  Cortcz,  the  renowned 
conqueror  of  Mexico,  was  at  this  time  in  Spain,  and,  after 
seeing  and  conferring  with  him,  furnished,  from  his  own 
amj>k^  stores,  what  was  needed  to  complete  an  outfit. 

Upon  I'izarro's  return  to  America,  serious  quarrels 
ensued  between  him  and  Almagro,  who,  as  ai)pears  Justly, 
thought  liimself  grossly  neglected  in  the  arrangenienUs 
entered  into  witli  the  Spanish  government.  Luque  also 
distrusted  the  good  faith  of  his  emissary,  and  it  seemed 
too  evident  to  both  of  these  parties  to  tlic  old  contract, 
that  ]*izarro  would  readily  tlirow  them  aside,  should  ocoa- 


il 


\'i'  I,  h» 


SOUTH  AMKJIICAX   IXDIAN.S. 


515 


non  offer,  and  advance!  lii.s  own  rolations  in  tlunr  stouvL 
Tliesc  dillicultios  were,  by  Pizarro's  representations,  prom- 
ises, and  eoneessions,  for  the  time  smootlied  over,  and 
three  vessels  were  fitted  out  at  Panama  fur  the  grand 
ex])edition.  Those  in  which  the  reernits  had  been  brought 
over  from  Sjiain,  were  necessarily  leil  upon  the  other  side 
of  the  Isthmus. 

It  was  not  until  January,  of  1531,  that  the  adventurers 
set  sail.  The  company  consisted  of  less  than  two  hundred 
men,  twenty -seven  of  whom  were  provided  with  liorscs; 
the  advantage  of  even  a  small  bodv  of  cavalry  in  ii<;hls 
with  the  Indians  having  been  so  strikingly  ap])arent  in  the 
proceedings  at  Mexico.  Tumbcz,  on  the  southern  shore 
of  the  gulf  of  Guayaquil,  was  the  ])ort  for  which  the  little 
fleet  steered  its  course,  but,  owing  to  head  winds  and  other 
dinicultics  in  navigation,  a  landing  was  made  at  the  bay 
of  St.  Matthew's.  Pizarro,  with  the  armed  force,  went  on 
shore  at  this  place,  not  far  from  where  Esmeraldas  now 
stands,  and  marched  southward,  while  th.e  vessels  coasted 
along  the  shore.  Feeling  himself  strong  enough  to  com- 
mence serious  operations,  the  unprincipled  invader  no 
longer  put  ^n  the  cloak  of  fiiendship,  but  without  warn- 
ing fell  upon  the  first  Indian  town  in  his  route.  This  wtus 
in  the  district  of  Coaquc.  The  natives  fled,  leaving  their 
treasures  to  be  seized  and  ])lundered  by  the  S})aniards. 
A  considerable  quantity  of  gold,  and  a  great  number  (;f 
the  largest  and  most  valuable  emeralds  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  rapacious  adventurers.  The  spoil  was  collected, 
and  publicly  distributed,  according  to  regulated  ])ortions, 
among  the  company,  it  being  death  to  secrete  any  ])rivate 
plunder.  Tl:e  royal  fifth  was  deducted  previous  to  the 
division. 

The  vessels  were  sent  back  to  Panama  to  excite,  by  the 
display  of  these   treasures,  the  cupidity  of  new   recruits, 
while  the  little  army  continued  its  march  tfnvards  Tumbez. 
85 


^1'^ 


1    I 


I" 


I! 


f    ill  V 


^\]: 


m 


\    .< 


1         ) 


%i 


'm'' 


-nl 


516 


IMMAN  KACKri  OF  AJIEKICA. 


The  natives  of  tlic  villi),-j,('s  llimii,i;]i  Avliicli  tlicy  passed, 
ionrning,  in  advanee  of  the  Spa..iar(ls'  :i])proacli,  the  eourse 
])ursue(l  at  Coaque,  a1)andoiicd  their  lioines,  bearing  all 
their  valuables  with  ihein.  PiMvation  and  sullering  en- 
sued, 'ilio  tropieal  heat  of  the  eountrv,  famine  and 
fatigue,  began  to  dishearten  the  t]'ooj)s.  Worse  than  all. 
a  singular  and  malignant  enlaneous  disease  began  to  spread 
among  them.  Large  warts  or  vaseular  exeresenees  bi'oko 
out  upon  those  attaeked,  which,  if  opened,  bled  so  j)i'()- 
fusely  as  to  cause  death,  "'["he  (>j)idemie,"  says  Preseott, 
"wliicli  made  its  first  ap})earanee  during  this  invasion,  and 
which  did  not  long  survive  it,  spread  over  the  A\holo 
country,  sparing  neither  native  nor  white  man." 

The  distresses  of  tla;  Si)aniards  were  somewhat  relieved 
by  the  arrival  of  a  vessel  from  J'anama,  in  which  came  a 
number  of  new  state  olficers,  appointed  by  the  Emperor 
Charles  since  Pizarro's  depai'ture  from  Spain,  bringing 
with  them  a  quantity  of  provision.  AVith  some  slight 
further  reinforcement,  the  commander  brought  his  troops 
to  the  gulf  of  Guayaquil,  and,  by  invitation  from  the  isl- 
anders, who  had  never  been  reduced  by  the  Peruvian 
monarchs,  and  still  maintained  a  desultory  warfare  with 
their  forces,  he  took  up  his  quarters  uj_)On  the  isle  of 
Puna.  The  inhabitants  of  Tumbez,  (lying,  as  we  have 
mentioned,  iipon  the  southern  shore  of  the  gulf,  and  oppo- 
site the  island,)  came  over,  in  large  nvunbers,  to  welcome 
the  whites,  trusting  to  their  friendly  demonstrations  at  the 
time  of  the  earl}'  expeditions.  Diflmulties  soon  arose  from 
the  bringing  of  these  hostile  Indian  races  in  contact. 
Pizarro  was  told  that  a  conspiracy  had  been  formed  by 
some  of  the  island  chiefs,  to  massacre  him  and  his  follow- 
ers. Without  delay,  he  seized  upon  the  accused,  and 
delivered  them  over  to  their  old  enemies  of  Tumbez  for 
destruction.  The  consequence  was  a  furious  attack  by  the 
islanders.     The  thousands  of  dusky  warriors  who   sur- 


SOUTir  AMEiaCAN  INDIANS. 


i-17 


rounded  tlie  little  encampment,  were  dispersed  and  driven 
into  the  tliiekets,  with  very  small  loss  to  tlie  well-armed 
and  mail-clad  Kuropeans.  The  discharge  of  musketry, 
and  the  rush  of  mounted  men,  gliskming  with  defensive 
armor,  seldom  failed  to  break  the  lineS;  and  confuse  the 
movements   even   of  the  hravest   and   most    determined 


savages. 


After  their  victory  Pizarro  found  his  situation  extremely 
precarious,  for  the  enemies  whom  lu^  had  driven  into  the 
forest  continued  to  harass  and  weary  his  army  by  night 
attacks,  and  the  difliciilty  of  procuring  provisions  daily 
increased.  lie  became  desirous  of  }>assing  over  to  the 
main  as  sj)eedily  as  possil)le,  and  his  good  fortune  sent 
him,  at  this  period,  snch  assistance  as  rendered  the  contin- 
uance of  his  enterprise  more  hopeful.  This  was  afVorded 
by  the  arrival  of  the  celebrated  IL  rnando  de  Soto,  whose 
romantic  adventures  in  aftc-life,  have  l')een  briefly  chron- 
icled in  the  early  part  of  this  volume,  under  the  title  of  the 
P'lorida  Indians.  Dc  Soto  brought  out  one  hundred  men 
and  a  consideTable  number  of  horses,  llins  reinforced, 
the  commander  of  ':hc  expedition  at  once  undertook  the 
transportation  of  his  men  and  stores  across  to  Tumbez. 

Instead  of  rejoicing  their  eyes  with  the  splendor  of  this 
celebrated  city,  and  luxuriating  in  its  wealth,  the  Spaniards 
found  the  whole  place  dilapidated  and  deserted.  Such  of 
the  Indians  as  appeared,  manifested  a  decidedly  hostile 
disposition,  and  several  of  the  party  engaged  in  transport- 
ing the  baggage  and  provisions,  upon  balsas  or  rafts,  were 
seized  and  slain.  Most  of  the  houses  of  the  city  were 
found  to  be  destroyed,  and  the  costly  ornaments  and 
decorations  were  all  stripped  from  the  temple.  It  cannot 
be  certainly  known,  at  this  day,  what  were  the  causes  for 
this  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Tumbez.  The 
curaca  of  the  place  was  taken  prisoner  by  some  of  j'izarro's 
men,  and  his  explanation  of  the  matter  was,  that  the  war 


:f\l(\ 


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ft,: 


h. 


I  ;^*!;^ 


\m 


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M'    ' 


''illLfiiil 


r>t8 


INDIAN  KACKS  OK  AMKHICA. 


witli  the  Puna  islanders  liad  rcsiilUMl  in  tliis  demolition  (.f 
iho  cit}'.  No  certain  intellij^enee  was  ever  obtained  of  tlie 
fate  of  those  whites  who  had  been  left  at  Tuniljez  at  the 
time  of  the  former  e.\j)edition  of  diseovcM-y. 

It  now  beeajne  evident  to  Pizarro  that  he  should  have 
some  fixed  })laee  of  settlement,  where  his  troops  might 
encamp  and  live  in  safety  until  n  proper  opportunity  pre- 
sented itself  for  more  aetive  operations,  lie  therefore  set 
himself  to  explore  the  country  to  the  southward.  In  con- 
ducting this  examination,  he  made  u.sc  of  a  more  cimeilia- 
tory  i)oliey  than  hmvtofore,  in  his  intercourse  with  the 
natives,  ;ind  to(>k  pains  to  restrain,  for  the  time,  the 
rapacity  of  his  followers,  'fhe  result  was  that  the  Indians 
were  in  turn  friendly  and  hospitable.  A  settlement  w;us 
made,  and  the  fiumdation  of  a  town,  I'alled  San  Miguel, 
commenced  on  the  river  Piura.  Nund)crs  of  the  natives 
were  reduced  to  vassalagt\  and  distributed  among  the 
Spaniards  to  aid  in  the  labor  of  improving  and  extending 
the  village. 

Pizarro  had  gathered  information,  by  means  of  the  in- 
terpreters in  his  company — the  natives  formerly  taken  by 
liim  to  Spain— of  the  poliueal  state  of  the  country,  and  of 
the  present  location  of  Atahuallj>a,  at  or  near  Caxamalca. 
lie  had  secured  a  considerable  amount  of  gold,  which  was 
sent  bavk  to  Panama,  by  consent  of  the  company,  and 
applied,  after  deducting  the  perquisites  of  the  crown,  to 
defray  the  expense  of  fitting  out  the  expedition. 

The  whole  summer  was  sj^ent  in  these  operations,  and 
it  was  not  until  the  2-lth  of  September,  1532,  that  the 
commander  was  ])re})aved  to  lead  his  small  army  into  the 
interior.  His  whole  force  was  less  than  two  hundred  men, 
fro:.i  whom  it  was  necessary  to  deduct  a  porticni  for  the 
purpose  of  garrisoning  San  Miguel.  On  the  march  towards 
the  enormous  range  of  mountains  which  they  were  to 
cross,  the  Spaniards  refrained  from  rapine  and  plunder. 


SOUTH  AMEHICAN  INDIAN'S. 


ir[\) 


Tlicy  were  tliorcfore  roceivod  with  kindly  curiosity  hy  tlie 
inhabitants,  and  in  tlicir  proprivss  availed  theinselvcs  with- 
oni  niolostation  of  tho  jiublic  fortrosses  and  Khcltcrcd 
stopping-places  prepared  upon  the  high  roads  for  the  use 
of  the  royal  armies.  They  were  delighted  with  the  rit;h 
and  highly-cultivated  ap])earancc  of  numy  of  the  beautiful 
vallies  passed  upon  the  route. 

The  company  consisted  of  one  hundred  juid  seventy- 
seven  m(Mi,  of  whom  sixty-seven  were  mounted.  From 
this  number,  nin(^  malcontents  were  suffered  by  the  pru- 
dent leader  to  return  to  San  Miguel,  upon  pretence  that 
the  garrison  left  there  was  too  weak,  l)ut  in  reality  to  pre- 
vent the  sj)read  of  discontent  among  the  troops. 

In  a  hopeful  spirit,  and  with  strengthened  confidence  in 
their  connuHndcr,  the  little  cavalcade  pressed  on  to  Zaran, 
a  fei'tile  settlement  amid  the  mountains.  A  few  leagues 
south  of  this  j)lace,  at  Caxas,  a  garrison  of  the  Tnca's  troo])s 
was  said  to  be  stationed,  and  thither  Pizarro  sent  an  em- 
bassy, under  the  direction  of  Dc  Soto,  to  open  a  eonunu- 
nication  with  the  prince.  I'he  messengers  were  absent  no 
less  than  a  week;  but  they  finally  returned  in  safety, 
accompanied  by  one  of  the  odicers  of  the  Jnca,  bearing 
rich  j)resents  and  messages  of  W(;leorne  and  invitation 
from  the  monarch  in  person.  Pizarro  received  this  noble 
with  the  respect  due  to  liis  rank  and  j)osition,  bestowing 
ujion  him  such  gifts  as  would  be  most  attractive  in  the 
eyes  of  a  person  ignorant  of  European  arts.  At  his  de- 
]iarture,  the  envoy  was  charged  to  tell  his  sovereign  that 
the  band  of  whites  was  subject  to  a  great  emperor  of  a 
distant  country;  that  they  had  heard  of  the  Inca's  great- 
ness and  concpiests,  and  had  come  to  proller  their  aid  in 
his  wars. 

Continuing  their  march,  the  Spaniards  reached  the  foot 
of  the  Andes.  Nothing  but  the  fiercest  courage  and  the 
most  undaunted  resolution,  both  excited  to  the  utmost  by 


Ll; 


1    I 


H 


:,u,. 


mm 
1  ■• 


I! 


,  ;i 
11 


i 


:,jVi  '. 


■'1  ;  ■' 

ih 

fill        '  ' 


K' 


oO 


INDIAN    liACKS  OF  AMKIUCA. 


Jic  li<)]>o  (if  Ixjiiiidloss  rii'lics  mill  ruwiirds,  could  have 
stiinul.itcil  siidi  u  liiindful  of  udveiiturcrs  to  uiidortako 
tlu;  .•is.'riil  ol  this  ciKjnnous  riingo  of  mountains,  whore 
ntithini:'  could  save  tliein  IVom  utt(;r  destruction,  slioiild 
tlic  l'orl)raraiicc  of  the  natives  ccuise.  Tiu'  main  nioiintuiii 
road,  sti'i'tcliinii  ^)\X  to  tlie  soiitliward  towards  tiie  ancient 
I'ern\ian  capital,  tcni])ted  them  to  tid\';  their  course  in  that 
direction,  while  across  the  mountains  a  naiwow  aiul  dilli- 
cult  }>ass  led  towards  the  encampment  of  the  Inca.  It  was 
detcniiined  to  push  on  in  the  originally  })ro})oscd  direo- 
tion.  The  vast  and  rugged  elevations,  rising  one  beyond 
anothei',  must  have  a])peared  to  the  unpractised  e^'e  totally 
insurmountable. 

"    *     *     *     TliDse  I'Verliistiiiir  cloiuls, 
Scoiltiine  and  liarvi-st,  iiKn-niiiy,  noon,  and  niylit, 
Klill  wliiM'i!  tlu'V  wcri',  (sti-adt'iist,  immovuble— 
So  in.issiv*',  yi't  so  sluidowy,  so  etliLTi'al, 
As  to  Inilonjr  nitlicr  to  Hi'iivi-n  than  Earth — 
*     *     They  sL-i-nied  the  hari'iei's  of  u  World, 
Saying,  Thus  far,  no  farther!" 

The  accounts  of  modern  travellers  have  familiarized  us 
with  the  details  of  the  dangers  attendant  upon  a  passage 
of  the  Andes.  What  then  must  have  been  the  attempt 
by  these  pioneers,  totally  ignorant  of  the  route,  and  mo- 
mentarily expecting  an  attack  from  the  natives  in  passes 
where  an  army  could  be  eflectually  cheeked  by  a  handful 
of  resolute  men.  Their  feari  of  Indian  treachery  proved, 
however,  groundless;  tliey  reached  the  summit  in  safety, 
and,  -while  encamped  about  the  fires  rendered  necessary 
by  the  sharp  air  of  those  elevated  regions,  messengers 
again  appeared,  sent  by  Atahuallpa  to  meet  them.  A 
present  of  llamas  proved  most  acceptable  to  the  weai'ied 
and  suffering  troops,  and,  from  all  that  could  be  gathered 
by  communion  with  the  ambassadors,  it  did  not  appear 
probable  that  they  would  be  molested  upon  their  route. 


.<i)l  TU  .SMEUICAN  INDIANS. 


Ou! 


Littl(^  (lon1)t  was  (Mitcrtaincd  l»y  Pizari'o  tliat  tlio  TiiCfi 
fully  iiitiMifled  to  entrap  and  seiw  liitn  tus  soon  jis  ho  slioulii 
be  cDMijilctoly  in  Ms  power,  and  surroundi'd  l»y  an  irrc- 
sistil>l(',  loroc  of  his  sahjeets.  It  was  ascortaincd  that 
Atahuallpa  was  cncai'nped  with  a  lar/ic  army  only  tlin'o 
mill's  from  (.^ixamalea,  and  that  the  <'ity  was  abandoned 
by  its  inhabitants.  This  had  a  threatening  appearance, 
but  the  Inea  continued  to  send  fiiciidb'  mcssa,^es,  and  as 
it  was  too  late  to  think  of  reti'eat,  evi-n  had  their  hearts 
now  failed  them,  the  Spaniards  descended  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Andes,  an<l  eiiteriMl  the  valley  of  Caxamalea.  I'lveiy 
thing  now  S(.'en  gave  tokens  of  itio.-^jH'rity,  industry,  and 
skill.  "  Ik'low  the  adventurers,"  says  Prescott,  "with  its 
white  houses  glittering  in  the  sun,  lay  the  little  city  of 
Ca.Kamah^a,  like  a  sparkling  gem  on  the  (hirk  skirts  of  the 
sierra."  Fartlicr  on.,  the  immense  encampment  of  the  Inea 
was  seen  in  the  distance,  spotting  tlie  rising  ground  with 
countless  tents,  ^rarching  through  the  valley,  the  troops 
entered  the  vacant  city  upon  the  loth  of  Xovcmber  (15o2). 


CIIAPTKR    IV. 

FIRST  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  INCA — PLANS  FOR  HIS  CAPTURE — ENTHV 

OF  ATAHUALLPA  INTO  CAXAMALCA ADDRESS  OF  THE  CHAPLAIN 

ATTACK    HY  THE   SPANIARDS:    FEARFI'L  MASSACItE  OF  THE  NA- 
TIVES, AND  SEIZURE  OF  THE  INCA PRISONERS  AND  PLUNDER 

0I5TAINED — THE  PROMISED  RANSOM — HERNANDO  PIZARUo's 

VISIT  TO  PACHACAMACA CHALLCUCHIMA — MESSENGERS 

SENT  TO  CUZCO — IMMENSE    TREASURE  COLLECTED  AT 
CAXAMALCA TRIAL  AND  MURDER  OF  ATAHUALLPA. 

A  small  party  of  horse,  led  by  Hernando  Pizarro  and 
by  the  brave  and  chivalrous  Dc  Soto,  was  at  once  dis- 
patched to  report  to  the  Inea  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards. 


-  m 


ll 


^ 


.".2 


INDIAN    UACIOS   01-"  A.MI.'UICA. 


I>iisliiii{5  Loltlly  up,  I'jioii  flicir  s])irit.r(l  liorscs,  llio  Sj);in- 
uirds  entered  the  i<\n\cv  ()ecu|ii»'(l  by  the  Peruvian  cunp, 
and  siiou  .stood  in  the  roval  juisenee.  Atahiudlpa,  distin- 
p,-uished  by  the  "borhi,"  or  erimson  friii^t!  Itound  uround 
the  .'brehi'ad,  an  ornament  pee'diar  to  the  Ineas,  sat  ex- 
j)eetin<^  their  arrival,  surrounded  by  his  ollieers  of  state. 
He  (bd  not  so  far  uid)end  his  (bj^inty  as  to  pay  tiie  Knst 
attention  to  the  novel  appearance  of  the  steel-elad  eaval 
cade,  but  ke[)t  his  eyes  ininiovably  fixetl  upon  the  ^roinid. 
AVithout  disnu)untii;Lr,  Ib'i'uando  salutetl  the  inonarcli, 
and,  thi'ou^h  I'V'lipillo's  interpn!tati<jn,  made  known  his 
general's  avowed  purjiosrs,  and  earnestly  reipu'stcd  the 
king  to  visit  the  Spanish  earn])  in  jierson.  One  oi'  th(( 
attendants,  sj)eaking  in  behaU'ol'  his  master,  brielly  repHcd, 
'=Itis  welh" 

Hernando  still  j)crsistcd  in  i-equcsting  the  monarch  to 
make  known  his  j)leasure,  and  to  sj)eak  to  them  person* 
ally;  whereupon  Atahuallpa,  turning  his  head,  and  look- 
ing upon  him  with  a  smile,  announced  that  he  was  then  in 
the  observance  of  a  fast,  but  would  Nisit  the  Sj>!inish 
quarters  on  the  ensuing  day.  He  further  directed  tliat 
the  troops  .should  confine  themselves  to  the  buildings  situ- 
ated U])on  the  j»hiza  or  jniblic  si^uare. 

He  .Soto  is  said  tc;  have  been  mounted  upon  a  noblo 
charger,  and,  to  excite  the  admiration  of  the  luea,  he  {)ut 
his  horse  to  his  full  .speed,  and  wheeling  suddeidy,  d.i-.'w 
him  short  no  ini:i\ediately  in  front  of  the  monarch.  .\ta- 
huallpa's  nerves  wc'.'c  jiroof  against  this  disj)lay,  and  he 
gave  no  signs  whatever  of  any  emotion.  It  wr.s  aftei'- 
wards  reported  tnat  he  ca\ised  .several  of  his  nUcndants  to 
be  put  to  death  for  exhibiting  alarm,  upon  this  occasion, 
at  the  fury  and  spirit  of  the  war-horse. 

Some  of  the  women  of  the  royal  household  now  offered 
the  Spaniards  the  fermented  drin^'  of  the  country,  "chi- 
cha,"  in  golden  goblets.     This  the)  J  unk  in  their  saddh'S, 


iSOUTII  AMKUICAN   IM)IAN3. 


T  '  'J 


£in«l  then  spurred  hack  to  tlio  oncaiiijiincnt  iit  Caxnir.alcn. 
Tlu'ir  report  of  the  \)()\\vr  of  tli<'  Peruvian  force  Icndcd 
greatly  fo  discoiira;^;*!  tlie  little  baud  of  atlveuturi'rs,  Imt 
oiilv  served  to  nerve  tlieii-  b^Id  and  iinserupulnus  leader 
ton  more  determined  juniio.-e.  IJe( oUeetinL':  tlie  success 
of  Corte/  in  securing-  the  person  of  Moiit«'/iima,  and 
throu^li  him,  for  the  time,  eontioHin^r  tjie  oflieers  (  f  the 
capital,  J*i/arro  detei'mined  upon  the  same  policy.  Ih' 
made  known  liis  resolution  to  his  oll'icei's,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  distribute  sentinel.-  at  points  where!  they  could 
command  a,  view  of  the  appi'oaches  to  tlu;  city,  and  of  the 


] 


eruviaii  camp. 


At  (hiyd)reak  on  the  followin,^  morinncr,  Ti/arro  eom- 
meneed  his  arrangements  for  the  sur})rise  and  eajiture  f)f 
the  Tnca.  The  <^nvat  S([uare  (more  })roj)erly,  in  this  in- 
stance, a  triangU')  was  surrouiided  with  low  l)uildin<^s, 
with  large  entrances  on  the  sana*  h'vel  witli  the  inclosed 
S})aee.  'I'hey  were  built  partly  of  stone,  but  mostly  of 
unbnnit  brick  or  ehiy.  The  Spanish  cavalry,  in  two  scj.- 
aratc  bodies,  respectively  under  coinnuiinl  of  Hernando 
Pizarro  and  Dc  Soto,  was  concealed  in  lai'ge  halls,  from 
which  a  sally  could  bo  made  at  a  moment's  warning.  The 
foot-.soldiers  were  stationed  in  another  quarter,  where  they 
could  most  })romptly  second  the  elforts  of  the  hor;-:(>;  and 
two  small  falc(niets,  constituting  the  only  artilU-ry,  were 
phiced  under  charge  of  an  officer  called  Pedro  de  Candia, 
from  the  ])lace  of  his  birth. 

'IMie  Peruvian  monarch,  on  his  part,  made  preparations 
to  tippear  in  the  utmost  .state,  and  to  impress  the  eyes  of 
the  strangers  with  his  power  and  magnincencc.  So  much 
time  was  occui)ied  in  the  movements  of  the  immense  army, 
that  it  was  after  noon  before  the  Inca  arrived  at  the  city. 
lie  was  about  to  pitch  liis  camp  without  the  walls,  and 
postpone  his  visit  till  the  following  morning,  had  not 
Pizarro  sent  a  message,  earnestly  re([uesting  him  not  to 


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654 


INDIAN  RACES   OF  AMEllICA. 


delay  liis  corning,  as  all  was  ready  for  liis  entertuinnient 
Entirely  unsuspicious  of  the  pci'lidious  intention  (jf  the 
Spaniaids,  Atahuallpa  conij)lied  with  the  request.  Itwns 
nearly  sunset  when  he  entered  the  town,  acconi])anied  bv 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  obsequious  but  unarnied 
attendants,  lie  was  Ixu'ue  by  numbers  of  his  ])eoj)le  upon 
a  liiuh  ])alan(|uin,  on  a  seat  of  massive  si'old,  hun"-  about 

Oil?  (^7  0 

and  adorned  with  the  most  brilliant  feathered  work.  Uk 
dress   was    e(pi;  lly  inagnilicent,    and   sparkled   with    ilie 


rarest  gems. 


Arriving  at  tlic  middle  of  the  great  square,  with  his 
peo])le,  to  the  number,  as  was  eompnted,  of  from  five 
to  six  th<.»us;ind,  ranged  in  respectful  silence  around  him, 
Atahuallj)a  was  sui-prised  to  see  notlung  of  the  Euro- 
peans.  Presently,  however,  the  chaplain,  Vicente  de  Val- 
verde,  made  his  appearance,  and,  atldressing  the  Inca, 
commenced  a  long-winded  oration  upon  the  religion  of 
the  Spaniai'ds,  the  authority  of  their  nuuiarch  and  of  the 
Pope,  ami  the  ]!urposes  of  the  expedition;  and  concluded 
by  exhoiting  him  to  discard  his  idolatrous  worshij),  to 
receive  that  now  })roffered,  and  to  acknowledge  himself 
the  subj(-'ct  of  the  emperor!  Old  Purchas  gives  the  fol- 
lowing outline  of  the  ecclesiastic's  oration:  '■'•  Excelled 
Loi-d^  it  behoveth  you  to  know,  'Jliat  GOD  in  Trinitie  and 
Vnitie  nuule  the  world  of  nothing,  and  formed  a  man  of 
the  Earth  whom  he  called  Adam,  of  whom  we  all  haue 
beginning.  Adam  sinned  against  his  Creator  by  disobe- 
dience, and  in  him  all  his  posteritie,  except  Il^SVS 
CHRIST:  who,  being  God  came  down  from  Heaven  and 
to(dve  flesh  of  the  Virgine  Maiue;  and  to  redeeme  Man- 
kimle,  died  on  a  Crosse  like  to  this  (for  which  cause  we 
v/orship  it;)  rose  again  the  third  day,  and  after  fortie  dayes, 
ascended  into  lleauen,  leaning  for  his  Vicar  in  Earth  Saint 
Pdo;  and  his  Successours,  which  we  call  Popes;  who  haue 
giueu  to  the  most  Puissant  King  of  Spaine,  Emperour  of 


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ion  (jf  the    , 

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(,'()j)lo  upon                   1 

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viji'k.     Jli>                   i 

with    ilie            : 

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from  five           ^ 

■oiiiid  liiin, 

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ute  de  V'al- 

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religion  of 

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^^1 

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by  disobc- 

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eavcn  and 

1 

^eme  Man- 

1  cause  we 

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^1 

^ai'th  Saint 

^B 

who  haue 

■ 

ii2)erour  of 

I^H 

J     1 

SOUTH  AM EU 10 AN   INDIANS. 


555 


the  Romanes  the  Afonarehy  of  the  Worhh  Ohcy  the  Pope, 
and  reeciue  the  faith  of  CllUlST;  and  if  yee  shall  beleeuc 
it  most  holy,  and  that  most  I'alse  whieh  yee  haii'',  yee  shall 
doe  well;  and  knowe  that,  doing  the  contrai'ii',  wt'e  will 
make  wai'i'e  on  von,  and  will  take  awav  and  breake  Nour 
Iduls;  therefore  lt;aue  the  deeeiualjle  ivligion  of  y(;ur  false 
Gods."  All  this,  (to  him)  tedious  and  inecjmprL-hensible 
jargon  was  intei'];reteil  to  thu  Tnea — aee^rding  to  repoi't, 
with  some  rather  bKberous  ei'i'ors,  in  the  cxplanati(_)n  of 
the  religious  dogmas.  He  listened  in  silence  until  he  h^ird 
the  arrogant  and  insolent  conclusion,  when  not  even  the 
apathy  or  self-control  of  the  Indian  was  sufTicieiit  to  enable 
him  to  conceal  his  incbgnation.  He  r('])lied  in  language 
beihting  a  king,  that  no  man  could  claim  su])eriority  over 
hiin,  and  that  he  would  uever  abjure  the  religion  of  his 
coui'.ti'v.  "For  the  Emj)eror,"  he  said,  according  to  Pur- 
clias,  "bee  couhl  be  jdeased  to  l)e  the  friend  of  so  gi'cat  a 
Prince,  and  to  know  him:  but  for  the  Pope,  he  would  not 
obej'  him,  whieh  gaue  away  that  which  was  not  his  owne, 
and  tooke  a  Kingdomc  from  him  whom  hec  had  neuer 
scene:  as  for  Peligion,  liee  liked  well  his  owne,  and  neither 
would  nor  ought  to  call  it  in  question,  being  so  ancient 
and  a})proued,  especiall_y  seeing  CliuiST  dyed,  wdiich  neuer 
befell  the  Sunne  or  Moone."  Then  taking  from  the  Priest's 
hand  the  Bible  or  breviary  wdjich  he  held  forth  as  the 
authority  for  his  unheanbof  assumption,  the  Inca  threw  it 
upon  the  ground,  angrily  announcing  his  determination 
of  calling  the  Spaniai'ds  to  a  speedy  account  for  their 
presum})tion,  and  for  the  wrongs  already  inflicted  upon 
his  nation. 

The  friar  sought  out  Pizarro,  and  urged  him  to  make 
an  immediate  attack,  offering  Inm  absolution  for  any  sin 
he  nught  commit  in  so  doing.  The  fierce  Spaniard  and 
his  impatient  troops  were  but  too  ready  to  aeee[)t  this 
advice.     All  day  had  they  kept  their  stations  in  a  coiidi- 


4 
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llili'i  '! 


556 


INDIAN   KACES  OF  AMEllIOA. 


ii, 


l'i,Y' 


lU       M'i 


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i.   1 


i   =':     i 


it  I 


lion  of  the  most  trying  suspense,  ready  ever}'  moment 
to  Le  called  to  aetion.  The  a})pointed  sij^aal  was  instantly 
given,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  discharge  from  the  falc(jnet3 
and  muskets,  the  wliole  force  rushed  furiously  uixju  the 
unarmed  crowd  of  natives.  Never,  in  the  histoiy  of  the 
"world,  was  a  more  bloody  and  remorseless  iiuissacre  com- 
mitted. In  the  short  space  intervening  between  sunset 
aiul  darkness,  several  thousand  of  the  miserable  wretches 
were  slain  unresistiiigl}'.  In  vain  did  the  nobles  throng 
round  their  monarch,  with  noble  selfdevotion  throwing 
away  their  lives  for  their  master,  and  opposing  their  bodies 
to  shield  him  from  the  weapons  whose  force  they  had  no 
means  to  avert.  The  unhappy  prince  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  securely  confined  in  an  adjoining  building.  The 
Spaniards  were  greatly  struck  with  the  appearance  and 
noble  demeanor  of  their  royal  captive.  lie  is  represented 
as  not  far  from  thirty  years  of  age,  of  a  well-built  and 
commanding  figure,  with  regular  features  and  a  singular 
majesty  of  expression — "his  countenance  miglit  have  been 
called  handsome,  but  that  his  eyes,  which  were  blood-shot, 
gave  a  fierce  expression  to  his  features." 

The  only  Spaniard  wounded  during  this  bloody  and 
horrible  transaction  was  Pizarro  himself,  who  received 
a  wound  in  the  hand  from  one  of  his  own  men,  while 
endeavoring  to  ward  off  a  blow  aimed  at  the  person  of 
the  Inca. 

Next  day  the  Indian  prisoners  were  set  at  work  to  bury 
the  iieaps  of  their  slaughtered  companions,  and  detach- 
ments of  troops  were  sent  over  to  Atahuallpa's  former 
place  of  encampment,  ^fhese  returned  in  a  few  hours, 
driving  in  great  nund)ers  of  prisoners  of  both  sexes,  many 
of  the  women  being  those  belonging  to  the  Inca's  house- 

O  DO 

hold.  The  Spaniards  reserved  as  many  slaves  as  their 
need  or  pride  required;  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  were  set 
free,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  some  in  the  army,  who 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


O'Oi 


^'eve  strenuous  tliat  tlicy  should  be  maimed  or  massacred. 
The  victors  Avere  now  at  liberty  to  ])lunder  at  will,  and 
their  extravagance  and  waste  had  full  sco})e.  ^i'he  vast 
flocks  of  llamas,  so  long  the  })ride  and  support  (;f  the 
country,  and  over  which  such  a  systematic  and  watchful 
care  had  been  exercised  for  ages,  wei-e  slaughtered  with- 
out  stint,  or  left  to  roam  neglected  among  the  mountains. 
The  stores  of  beautiful  fabrics  of  wool  and  cotton,  with 
which  the  city  was  stored,  were  o}>en  to  the  depredation 
of  all;  and  no  small  amouiit  of  j)lunder,  in  gohl,  silver, 
and  emeralds,  was  secured  at  the  Peruvian  camp,  or  taken 
from  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  and  laid  by  tor  future  division. 
The  Inca  was,  meanwhile,  treated  widi  a  certain  respect, 
but  his  person  was  most  carefully  guarded,  lie  was  al- 
lowed the  services  of  his  attendants,  who,  throughout  his 
captivity,  showed  no  diminution  of  obsequiousness  and 
respect,  but  bowed  as  liumbly  before  their  revered  mon- 
arch in  his  fallen  fortunes,  as  when  he  sat  upon  his  throne 
of  state,  the  arbiter  of  life  and  death  to  all  around  him. 

Atahuallpa  could  not  fail  to  perceive  what  was  the  mas- 
ter motive  to  all  acts  of  his  captors.  Appealing  to  this, 
he  promised  Pizarro  that,  if  he  would  engage  to  set  him 
at  liberty,  the  floor  of  the  room  where  they  then  stood, 
should  be  covered  with  gold  for  his  ransom.  The  size  of 
the  apartment  is  variously  stated,  but  it  was  at  least  sev- 
enteen feet  broad,  and  twenty  or  thirty  in  length.  As  the 
Spaniards  appeared  to  look  upon  this  promise  as  an  idle 
boast,  the  Inca  raised  his  hand  against  the  wall,  and  added 
that  "he  would  not  merely  cover  the  floor,  but  would  fill 
the  room  with  gold  as  high  as  he  could  reach." 

Pizarro  accepted  the  offer,  and  a  line  was  drawn  around 
the  room  at  the  agreed  height.  The  gold,  whether  in  the 
form  of  bars  and  plates,  or  of  vases  and  statuaiy,  was  to 
be  piled  without  being  broken  uj)  or  reduced  in  bulk. 
Besides  this  undertaking,  wdiich  was  to  be  accom])hshed 


1^ 

lit  ^  y 


t  Ih 


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1)t:|j^l'i      U 


i) 


111 


I' 


;  ■ 


|i!l  fi 


i\-  i 


558 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


I(^ 


J'  1  < 


li  >-' 


■  'I  h 


m 


within  two  month?,  a  snuillcr  room  wus  to  be  filled  "twice 
full  of  silver,  in  like  manner."  ^Fessengcrs  were  immedi- 
ately conunissioned  to  order  gold  from  every  quarter  of 
the  kingdom,  to  be  brought  as  speedily  !us  possible  for  the 
ransom  of  the  monareh. 

lluascar,  hearing,  in  his  ])lace  of  confinement,  of  tlir 
reverse  which  had  befallen  his  brother,  at  once  opened  a 
communication  witli  Pizarro,  and  made  offers  still  nidic 
magnificent  than  those  of  Atahuallpa,  if  the  S})aniar(ls 
would  espouse  his  cause.  J'i/.arro  expressed  his  determin- 
ation to  hear  the  claims  of  both  parties,  and  to  decide, 
fi'om  the  evidence  that  should  be  adduced,  as  to  their 
I'espeetive  rights,  lluascar  was,  very  shortly  after  tlii.«, 
})ut  to  death  by  his  keepers,  as  was  generally  believed,  in 
accordance  with  secret  instructions  from  Atahuallpa. 

The  royal  mandate,  commanding  the  desecration  of  the 
magnificent  temples  and  palaces,  by  stripping  them  of  their 
wealth  of  preciou:-;  metals,  was  obeyed  as  speedily  as  jji-ae- 
tieable.  Gold  came  in  to  Caxamalca  in  large  quantitie.--, 
but  the  difficulty  of  conveyance  caused  no  little  delnv. 
While  waiting  the  completion  of  his  captive's  undertaking, 
l^izarro  sent  emissaries  to  Cuzco  to  examine  the  condi- 
tion and  wealth  of  the  country,  and  dispatched  his  brother 
Hernando,  with  a  small  party  of  horsemen,  to  visit  iIk; 
city  of  Pachacamac,  three  hu  dred  miles  distant,  U]inn 
the  sea-coast.  Hernando  returned  to  Caxamalca  with  glow- 
ing  reports  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  country 
through  which  he  had  passed  on  this  expedition.  lie  had 
visited  the  city  for  which  he  had  directed  his  course,  and 
had  destroyed  the  great  idol  upon  the  temple,  the  former 
object  of  worship  to  the  inhabitants,  and  which  had  been 
allowed  to  maintain  its  ])laec  by  the  Peruvian  conquerors, 
and  to  receive  joint  homage  with  the  sun.  In  crossing  the 
rocky  and  rugged  mountains,  the  shoes  of  the  horses  gave 
out,  and,  as  no  iron  was  to  be  procured,  it  was  necessai'V 


'4' '  I 


SOUTH  AMERICAN'  INDIANS. 


059 


neeo.<.«;u'V 


to  replace  tliem  with  silvcn*!  or,  as  some  say,  with  a  mix- 
ture of  silver  and  eopper. 

lleniando  brought  bav.k  with  liiin  C'lialleuehima,  a  vet- 
eran oOieer  of  the  Inca's,  :unl  tlie  most  ostceined  and  trust- 
wortliy  of  his  generals,  lie  voluntarily  acei)nipanied  the 
Spanish  cavalcade,  having  been  tohl  by  its  leader  that  his 
monarch  desired  to  sei;  him.  When  the  old  suldier  came 
into  his  master's  j)rescnce,  (barefuot,  and  cariying,  acr-ord- 
ing  to  custom,  a  small  burdcMi,  in  tokcMi  of  inli-iioi'ity,)  ho 
lamented  audibly  that  he  had  been  absent  at  the  time  o^ 
his  capture;  and,  weeping  iultci'ly,  kissed  the  hands  and 
feet  of  the  fallen  prince.  Atahuallpa  preserved  the  calm, 
unbending  dignity  which  he  ever  assumed  in  communica 
tions  with  his  subjects. 

The  messengers  sent  to  Cnzeo  demeaned  themselves 
with  the  utmost  ])ride  and  insolence.  '^I'ho  wIkjIc  of  the 
long  journey  was  accomplisheil  in  litters  or  sedan-chairs, 
borne  by  the  natives.  At  tlu;  royal  city  thes(!  emissaries 
superintended  the  stri])]mig  -A  the  givat  temple  of  its 
golden  plates  Jaid  oi'nanieiits,  of  whieh  a  va^^t  weight  was 
prepared  for  transpf)rtation  t(j  Caxnmalea. 

At  the  latter  })lace  of  encaniiunent,  the  Spanish  army 
was  very  considerably  reiidbrced  in  tin;  succei.'ding  month 
of  February,  (b")3o,)  by  the  an-ival  of  Pizarro's  old  com- 
rade Almagro.  lie  brought  with  him,  from  th.e  Spanish 
settlements  on  the  Istlnnus,  two  hun<b'ed  well-armed  sol- 
diers, fifty  of  whom  were  cavalry.  Thus  recruited,  l^i- 
zarro  was  eager  to  extend  his  con(pl(^•^ts  and  atMpiimtions. 
The  promises  of  the  Jnca  wen;  not,  as  yet,  wholly  faillUed. 
although  such  piles  of  treasure  were  accumulated  as  might 
well  astonish  and  satisfy  even  the  eyes  of  the  rapacious 
Spani'>7'ds.  The  beauty  and  finish  of  many  of  the  mas- 
sive vases  and  figures  were  long  after  a(hniivd  by  the 
artists  of  Europe.  Among  the  representations  of  natural 
objects  wrought  in  the  precious  metals,  was  the  car  o! 


. .    'I 


r 


!-  '; 


li    iill 


1.; ' 


im. 


MM     .1 


tit 


•I  !  I 


f'f'i/it'i'r' 


m 


i    .1 


'-  *i  ,. 


!  .1 


■■     .. 


560 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKKICA. 


innize.     Of  tliis,  tlic  leaves  and  tassel  were  perfectly  imi 
\ite(l  i.»  silver  work,  the  yellow  kernel  within  glistening 
with  the  }iiirest  i^old. 

It  was  (leterniined  to  aequit  the  Tnea  of  any  further  ful- 
filment of  his  i-i'oniise,  Init  to  retain  him  a  prisoner,  and 
at  onec  to  break  up  and  divide  th  ;  treasure.  Some  of  tlie 
more  beaut  iful  speeimens  of  art  wei  'i  reserved  to  be  sent  to 
Spain;  the  rest  was  melted  into  ingots  by  the  native  arti- 
sans. "'I'he  total  amount  of  the  gold,"  as  stated  and  eom- 
puted  \>y  Ml-.  Prescott,  "was  found  to  be  one  million,  three 
hundred  and  twenty-six  thousand,  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  ^^(.^vw  c/';  oiv,  whieh,  allowing  for  the  greater  value  of 
money  in  the  sixteenth  ecmtury,  would  be  equivalent, 
probably,  at  the  j)resent  tinu^,  to  near  tlirce  miUious  and  a 
]udf  of  poumh  di  rllnij^  or  soni(3what  less  \\\ixn  fifteen  millions 
and  a  ludf  of  dollnrs.  ^J'lie  quantity  of  silver  was  esti- 
mated at  fifty-one  thousand  six  hundred  and  ten  marks." 
Tlie  gold,  as  above  estimated,  is,  indeed,  more  than  thrice 
the  sum  that  the  same  weight  of  the  precious  metal  would 
be  woi'th  at  the  present  daj-.  The  ^Jt'i'o  de  oro  is  said  to 
have  been,  specifically,  about  equal  to  three  dollars  and 
eeven  cents. 

Of  all  this  booty,  the  crown  had  its  fifth,  and  the  rest 
was  distributed  in  various  proj)ortions  among  the  numer- 
ous claimants.  But  a  «mall  allowance  was  made  to  the 
new  j'ccruits,  and  still  less  to  the  settlers  at  San  Mi<rucl. 
Certain  sums  were  devoted  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Catholic  religion  in  the  new  country. 

Having  now  obtained  all  that  was  to  be  expected 
through  the  Inca's  intervention,  at  least  without  such  de- 
lays as  their  impatient  spirits  could  not  brook,  the  unprin- 
cipled horde  of  fi'cebooters  whose  proceedings  we  are  no\7 
recording,  determined  to  rid  themselves  of  a  captive  who 
had  become  an  incumbrance. 

The  ridiculous  farce  of  a  trial  was   gone  through,  at 


» ■m 


•fcctly  imi 
glistening 

urtlicr  ful- 
soucr,  and 
onie  t)f  the 
)  be  sent  to 
lativo  urti- 
1  and  coni- 
llion,  three 
and  thirty- 
r  value  of 
3quivalent, 
lio}i.s  and  a 
:en  rnllUons 
r  was  esti- 
en  marks." 
than  thrice 
letal  would 
'  is  said  to 
lollars  and 

id  the  rest 
the  numcr- 
ade  to  the 
>an  Miirnel. 
ent  of  the 

)  expected 
it  such  de- 
the  unprin- 
ve  are  no\7 
aptive  who 

li rough,  at 


);  '  .'!  I 


M 


4 


Mil 


r 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


5G1 


Kh'wh  siicli  nccu'^ations  as  the  follou'Ing  wore  made,  and 
pretended  to  be  sustained:  He  had  been  guilty  of  polyga 
my;  of  "stiuandering  the  public's  revenues  since  the 
conquest;"  of  idolatry  [!j;  of  the  murder  of  his  brother 
Iluasear;  and  (>f  striving  to  excite  a  rebellion  against  the 
Spanise  authorities!  'Jliis  last  charge,  the  only  one 
brouiih.t  before  the  self-constituted  court  which  is  worthv 
of  comment,  wi\s  utterly  unsust-aincd.  The  country  was 
perfectly  (piiet,  and  even  the  ingenuity  of  the  T>rejudiced 
juilges  tailed  to  connect  the  royal  captive  witu  lui  ,  ttenipt 
at  insurrection.  It  is  said  that  the  malice  c^thc  eq)re- 
ter  I'V-lipillo  induced  him  to  distort  the  tes^--  lu.  v  adduced. 
This  fellow  had  been  engaged,  as  is  saia,  \\  ;  .1  intrigue 
with  one  of  the  Inca's  women.  The  i^scfuiness  of  the 
interpreter  protected  him  from  punishi.  ',  out  the  ex- 
pressed indignation  of  the  prince,  excited  the  permanent 
rancour  and  ill-will  of  his  inferior. 

The  unhappy  Atahuallpa  was  sentenced  to  be  burned 
alive  in  the  public  square  that  very  night.  AViien  his 
doom  was  made  known  to  him,  he  at  lirst  resorted  to 
every  entreaty  and  expostulation  to  move  his  murderers 
from  their  diabolical  })urpose.  "With  tears  he  reminded 
Pizarro  of  the  treasures  he  had  lavished  on  the  Spaniards, 
and  the  good  faith  which  he  had  always  shown,  and  promised 
a  ransom  far  greater  than  that  before  brought  in,  if  he  could 
but  have  time  to  procure  it,  and  if  his  life  were  spared. 
Seeing  that  entreaties  and  supplications  availed  nothing, 
the  dignity  and  firm  spirit  of  endurance  of  the  monarch 
returned,  and  he  calmly  awaited  his  terrible  fate.  By  the 
light  of  torches  he  was  brought  out  and  chained  to  the 
stake,  and,  at  the  last  moment,  submitted  to  the  disgrace- 
ful mockery  of  an  administration  of  the  sacraments,  and 
a  formal  j)rofession  of  Christianity,  that  a  speedier  form  of 
death  might  be  awarded  him.  lie  perished  by  the  infa. 
mous  garotte. 
3(5 


k 


i"' 


I!: 


;■  n 


m 


I  ill 


-,J.I..J, 


H 


I 


:jr 


';i'"'   C'^nn^ 


.       •        '':' 


"•*     <■'      <':U 


"'  .> 


it; 


lift 


502 


1XI>!aN  racks  of  AMKHIOA. 


Ilcrnaiulo  do  Soto,  u  man  who,  with  the  faults  of  his  ago 
and  nation,  was  vastly  superior  to  the  merciless  villains 
with  whom  lie  was  associated,  was  absent  at  the  time  of 
this  transaction,  and  on  his  return  condemned  the  jiro- 
ceediny  in  strong  terms.  A  small  proportion  of  the  comi»a- 
ny  thought  the  same  with  De  Soto,  concerning  the  murder, 
but  by  i'ar  the  greater  number  were  but  too  glad  to  be  rid 
of  a  troublesome  captive,  to  trouble  themselves  about  tlie 
means  of  accornj)lishing  their  purp/ose.  Those  chiefly  con- 
cerned, fc!lt  suiliciently  the  disgrace  attendant  upon  their 
acts,  to  endeavor  to  shift  the  responsibility  upon  each  other. 

In  "Purchas,  his  Pilgrimage,"  is  the  following  summary 
of  the  end  of  the  principal  agents  in  the  murder  of  Ata- 
hualljia:  "llowbeit  they  killed  him  notwithstanding,  and 
in  a  ni^jrht  straii2;led  him.  But  God,  the  ri'diteous  ,Judii;e, 
seeing  this  villainous  act,  suflered  none  of  those  Spaniards 
to  die  by  the  course  of  Nature,  but  brought  them  to  euill 
and  shamefuU  ends.  *  *  Alm.fgro  was  executed  by  Piear- 
ro,  and  he  slaine  by  yong  Almagro;  and  him  Vacca  de 
Castra  did  likewise  })ut  to  death.  John  Picarro  was  .shiine 
of  the  Indians.  Martin,  an  other  of  the  Brethren,  was 
slaine  with  Francis.  Perdinandus  was  imprisoned  in 
Spaine  &  his  end  vnknowne;  Gonzalez  was  done  to  death 
by  Gasca.  Soto  dieel  of  thought  in  Florida;  and  ciuill 
warres  eate  vp  the  rest  in  Peru." 

A  condition  of  anarchy  and  intestine  disturbance  suc- 
ceeded the  death  of  the  Inca,  and  the  rude  shock  given 
hy  the  Spanish  invasion  to  the  old  system  of  arbitrary, 
but  fixed  atid  unchangeable  laws.  Seeing  the  value  at- 
tached to  the  precious  metals,  the  natives  in  many  instances 
followed  the  example  of  the  conquerors  in  plundering  and 
destroying  the  public  edifices  of  their  own  country.  The 
quantity  of  gold  and  silver  conveyed  away  and  concealed 
for  ever  from  the  covetous  eyes  of  the  Europeans  was  said 
■to  have  infinitely  surpassed  that  which  they  had  secured. 


BOUTil  AMERICAN   INDIANS.  563 


CHAPTER    V. 

HARCir  TOWAUDS  CUZCO — OPPOSITION  OF  TIIK  NATIVES — DEATH  OF 

TOPAHCA.  ANDMtTRDRK  OK  CIIALI.CUC'HIMA MANCOCAPAC — ENTIIY 

INTO  THE  CAPITA  I, — BOOTV  OUTAINEU — ESCAl'K  OK  MANCO,  AND 

GENERAL  INSURRECTION — SIEGE  OF  CUZCO REVERSES  OF  THE 

SPANIARDS CIVIL  WARS — KUKTIIER  HOSTI  I.ITIKS  OK  MANCO 

CAPAC — CRUEL  TKEATMKNT  OF  TIIK  NATIVES — HEATH  OP 
MANCO  CAPAC — REFORMS  UNDER  PEDRO   DE   LA  GAS- 

CA — TUPAC    AMARU — INSURRECTION    OF  1781 

PRESENT  CONDITION  OK  THE  PERUVIAN  INDIANS. 

PiZARRO  now  decl.ired  the  sovereignty  of  Peru  to  be 
vested  in  a  brother  of  Atahuallpa  named  Toparco,  and  the 
ceremony  of  coronation  was  duly  performed.  Further 
slay  at  Caxamalca  was  deemed  unadvisablc,  and,  with  the 
new  Inca  in  company,  the  Spanish  army  pushed  on  towards 
the  ancient  capital  of  Peru,  over  the  magnificent  road  of 
tlie  Tncas.  The  ascent  of  the  mountain  ridges  was,  indeed, 
arduous  and  perilous,  as  the  road  was  intended  only  for 
fo(^t  passengers  and  the  agile  Peruvian  sheep  or  "camel," 
OS  the  animal  was  designated  by  early  writers.  As  in 
former  progresses,  the  granaries  and  halting-places  pre- 
pared for  the  royal  armies  supplied  abundant  food  and 
shelter. 

'^I'he  first  attempt  upon  the  part  of  the  natives  to  arrest 
the  progress  of  the  cavalcade,  was  at  Xauxa,  where  they 
collected  to  oppose  the  passage  of  a  considerable  stream. 
Pcsistance  proved  unavailing:  the  cavalry  dashed  through 
the  river,  and  dispersed  the  crowd.  Pizarro  encamped  at 
Xauxa,  and  commissioned  De  Soto,  with  sixty  mounted 
men,  to  go  forward,  and  see  that  all  was  safe  for  a  further 
advance.  As  that  cavalier  approached  Cuzco,  after  cross- 
ing the  Apurimac,  a  tributary  of  the  Amazon,  his  com 
maud  was  beset  by  a  hostile  force  of  Indians  among  the 


:V        Ii 


1 

1 

If  tr 

H 

- . 

in 
1' 

1 

'!.  •!■ 


p< 


!  i   ,n 


^- J 


fiGl 


INDIAN  HACKS  OK  AMEUICA. 


dangerous  passes  of  the  mountain  wliieli  lie  must  cross  tc 
reacli  the  capital.  By  superhuman  ell'orts,  the  little  party 
managed  to  force  a  way  against  the  enemy  until  an  ele- 
vated plateau  w.^  gained,  where  there  was  room  for  the 
movements  of  tiie  horses.  'J'he  natives,  becoming  mor(! 
familiar  with  the  arms  and  mode  of  lighting  ad(;})ted  by 
the  Spaniard;?,  fought  with  their  natural  courage  and  reso- 
lution, but  could  accomplish  little  after  the  cavalry  had 
attained  an  advantageous  position. 

During  the  night,  De  Soto  and  his  men  were  gladdencil 
by  the  arrival  of  Almagro  upon  the  field,  with  most  of  the 
cavalry  left  at  Xauxa.  Pizarro  had  received  advices  oi' 
the  danger  to  which  his  advance  was  exposed,  and 
promptly  forwarded  assistance.  The  whole  Spanish  force 
linally  assembled  at  Xaquixaguana,  but  a  few  miles  from 
Cuzco.  In  this  delightful  valley,  a  favorite  resort  of 
the  Inca  nobility,  whose  country-seats  were  every  wher. 
Bcattcred  over  its  surface,  the  army  encamped  for  rest  and 
refreshment.  At  this  place  various  charges  were  brought 
up  against  the  noble  old  warrior,  Challcuchima.  '^I'he 
new  Inca,  Toparca,  had  died  during  the  halt  at  Xauxa, 
and  it  was  thought  convenient  to  attribute  his  death,  as 
well  as  the  recent  hostile  movements,  to  the  machinations 
of  this  dangerous  prisoner.  lie  was  tried,  condemned, 
and  burned  alive — the  usual  method  of  execution  adopted 
by  the  Spaniards  in  the  case  of  an  Indian  victim.  It  is  to 
be  trusted  that  another  generation  will  look  upon  the  bar- 
barities still  persisted  in  among  the  most  enlightened 
nations  of  the  present  age,  with  the  same  sensations  that 
arc  now  aroused  by  the  remembrance  of  the  cruelties  so 
universal  in  former  times. 

A  new  claimant  to  the  throne  of  the  Incas  had  now 
arisen  in  the  person  of  Manco  Capac,  a  brother  of  the  ill- 
fated  Iluascar.  The  young  prince,  splendidly  attended, 
came  boldly  to  the  Spanish  camp,  explained  the  grounds 


.1    .i 


SOUTH  AMKUICAN  INDIANS. 


665 


of  his  claim,  ami  requested  tlic  aid  of  Pi/arro  in  establish- 
ing his  rights.  The  general  received  him  kindly,  ami 
Heemed  to  ueeedc  to  the  proposal.  In  company  with  this 
new  ally,  after  one  more  unimportant  skirmish,  the  Span- 
iards entered  Cu/eo,  (m  or  ahout  the  loth  of  November, 
l^t'6?>.  They  were  delighted  with  the  extent  and  magnifi- 
eenee  of  the  city,  and  tiie  liveliness  and  gayety  of  its 
inhabitants. 

'IVm])les,  ])ublie  edifices,  royal  palaces,  and  places  of 
sepulture,  were  every  where  ransacked  in  search  of  gold, 
but  orders  had  been  given  by  Pizarro  that  private  property 
should  be  respected.  The  rapacious  j)lundcrers  were  di.s- 
satisficd  with  the  amount  of  treasure  discovered,  although 
no  conquest  in  the  historj'  of  the  world  wa.s  ever  rewarded 
by  such  acquisitions  of  the  precious  metals,  and  proceeded 
to  subject  some  of  the  natives  to  the  torture,  to  compel  a 
disch)sure  of  thtir  secret  j)laces  of  deposit. 

^^In  a  cavern  near  the  city,"  says  Prcscott,  "they  found 
a  number  of  vases  of  pure  gold,  richly  end)osscd  with  the 
figures  of  serpents,  locusts,  and  other  animals.  Among 
the  sj)oil  were  four  golden  llamas,  and  ten  or  twelve 
statues  of  women,  .some  of  gold,  others  of  silver,  'which 
merely  to  see,'  says  one  of  the  conquerors,  with  some 
naiciti\  '  was  trul}'-  a  great  satisfaction.' "  Upon  the  march, 
no  small  amount  of  booty  had  been  secured:  "In  one 
place,  for  example,  they  met  with  ten  planks  or  bars  of 
Nolid  silver,  each  piece  being  twenty  feet  in  length,  one 
1  )Ot  in  breadth,  and  two  or  three  inches  thick." 

Manco  Capac  was  solemnly  crowned  at  Cuzco,  by 
I'izarro,  who,  with  his  own  hand,  presented  the  imperial 
badge,  the  "borla"  or  red  scarf  for  the  forehead.  The  con- 
queror arranged  a  system  of  government  for  the  city,  giving 
his  brothers  Gonzalo  and  Juan  the  principal  authority. 
The  natives  seemed  to  acquiesce  readily  in  the  new  regH' 
lations,  and  joined  hilariously  in  the  festivities  of  the  time. 


■   I 


:'      i 


I';  ■ 


«  1 


I)- 


'I 


ll 


I,!* 


il^ 


'!!,'  I 


.Hi".!/" 


Mh  i ; 


1  > 


[^66 


INDIAN   liACEri  OF  A.MElilCA. 


Pi/.arro  r.ow  Letliouglit,  lihu.sclf  of  estuljlisliing  a  c'aj)ilal 
fur  the  ii(>\\'  country  iu  a  more  convenient  location  tliaii 
either  Cu/co  or  C^Liit^J)  and  iu  January,  looo,  tlie  ibiuula- 
tions  of  the  city  of  J^iina  were  laid.  II(.'rnando  I'i/.arro 
had  been  previously  sent  to  Spain, -with  substantial  sj)eci- 
niens  of  the  newly-acquired  treasures.  His  a})])earance  at 
court,  and  his  details  of  straui^e  adventure,  excited  an  un- 
precedented enthusiasm  and  ustouishmcnt.  Lar;^'e  addi- 
tional emoluments  and  authorities  were  confenvd  upon 
the  principal  actors  in  the  conquest;  and  Hernando  returned 
to  America,  accompanied  by  numerous  adventurers  eager 
for  fame  and  fortune  in  the  new  world.  Almagro  received, 
by  royal  grant,  authority  to  conquer  and  possess  an  im- 
mense district,  southward  of  Peru;  and  thither  he  took  up 
his  march,  after  a  long  series  of  bickerings  and  quarrels  with 
Juan  and  Gonzalo,  respecting  conflicting  claims  at  Cuzeo. 

The  conquerors  of  the  emj)irc  of  the  Incas  became  cai'c- 
less  and  secure:  they  little  dreamed  that  there  yet  existed 
a  warlike  and  determined  spirit  among  the  down-trodden 
natives,  fated  soon  to  raise  a  storm  on  every  side,  whi(.:h 
not  even  Spanish  valor  and  dogged  determination  could 
readily  allay. 

The  young  Inca,  Manco  Capac,  indignant  at  the  conduct 
of  the  rulers  at  Cuzco,  and  disgusted  with  the  shadow  of 
authority  which  he  was  himself  allowed  to  exercise,  made 
his  escape  from  the  surveillance  of  the  Pizarros,  and,  rous- 
ing the  whoki  country  to  arms,  intrenched  himself  beyond 
the  Yucay.  Juan  Pizarro  in  vain  undertook  his  recapture. 
With  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  he  did,  indeed,  gain  a  tem- 
porary advantage,  but  the  effect  of  superstitious  fears  no 
longer  operated  to  dismay  the  Indian  warriors,  and  it  was 
only  by  virtue  of  hard  knocks,  and  by  actual  superiority 
in  skill,  weapons,  and  endurance,  that  they  could  be  con- 
quered. The  numbers  of  the  enemy  were  so  great,  and  so 
fast  increasing,  that  Juan  was  obliged,  in  a  few  days,  to 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  IN'DIANS. 


567 


rctvirn  to  Cuzco,  wliicli,  as  lie  was  informed  by  a  mcs- 
Bcntrcr,  was  now  bcsicLred  bv  tlie  Indians  in  still  more 
overwhelming  force. 

In  the  elegant  language  of  ^^r.  Prcscott:  "The  extensive 
puviri>i:s,  as  fur  as  the  eye  could  reach,  were  occupied  by 
a  mighty  host,  which  an  iiidclinite  computation  swelled  to 
the  nuiHl)er  of  two  hundred  thousand  warriors.  The 
dusky  lines  of  the  Indian  battalions  stretched  out  to  the 
very  verge  of  the  mountains;  while,  all  around,  the  eye 
saw  oidy  the  crests  and  waving  banners  of  chieftains, 
niiniilcd  witji  rich  panoj^lies  of  feather-work,  which  re- 
minded some  few  who  had  served  under  Cortes  of  the 
military  costume  of  the  Aztecs.  Above  all  rose  a  foi-est 
of  long  lances  and  battle-axes  edged  with  copper,  which, 
tossed  to  and  fro  in  wild  confusion,  glistened  in  the  rays 
of  the  setting  sun,  like  light  playing  on  the  surface  of  a 
dark  and  troubled  ocean.  It  was  the  iirst  time  that  the 
Spaniards  had  behehl  an  Indian  army  in  all  its  terrors; 
such  an  army  as  the  Incas  led  to  battle,  when  the  banner 
of  the  Sun  was  borne  triumphant  over  the  land." 

It  is  almost  inconceivable  that  such  a  handful  of  men 
as  were  gathered  within  the  city-walls,  .should  have  been 
abl(>  to  repel  the  force  now  gathered  about  them,  and  to 
maintain  theiv  position  untd  the  enemy,  wearied  with 
h.ojteh'ss  encounters,  and  sull'ering  from  want  of  provision, 
should  1)0  obliged  to  draw  oi!. 

The  buildings  of  Cuzco  were  nearly  all  covered  with  a 
neatly  arranged  thatch,  and  this  the  assailants  easily  ig- 
nited by  means  of  burning  arrows.  The  whole  city  was 
wrapt  in  flames,  and  the  Spaniards,  encamped  in  the  great 
plaza,  nearly  perished  from  the  heat  and  smoke.  AVheu 
the  flames  subsided,  after  several  days  of  terrible  confla- 
gration, one  half  of  the  proud  capital  was  a  heap  of  ruins. 

Fierce  battles  and  desperate  hand-to-ha-  1  encounters 
succeeded:  the  S2:)aniards,  with  their  accus;   'ued  bravery, 


![  ! 


!'    H  ' 


508 


IXIJIAX  liACES  OF  AMERICA. 


^- 


\  .. 


■■'in 


again  and  nnraiii  oliarged  the  enemy  in  tlie  field,  l)ut  tlieir 
numbers  wore  ,«o  great,  that  success  in  these  skirmisiics 
was  eventually  useK-vs.  The  sallies  from  the  (nty  were 
met  and  resisfid  with  the  most  determined  valor.  As  at 
the  siege  of  Mexico,  the  Indians  seemed  to  be  careless  of 
their  own  loss,  so  long  as  they  could  lessen  the  numbers 
of  the  whites,  in  however  inferior  degrees.  T'ley  no  longer 
fled  in  tciTor  at  the  ai)proach  of  the  horse.  I'hey  had  even 
availed  llKMiiselves  of  such  of  these  use  ul  animals  as  f.ll 
into  ihcir  hands.  Several  of  them  were  seen  mounted, 
and  the  Inea  himself,  "accoutred  in  the  European  fashion, 
rode  a  war-horse  which  he  managed  with  considerable 
ad(hvss,  and,  with  a  long  lance  in  his  hand,  led  on  his  [;.]- 
lowers  to  the  attack."  There  are  bounds  to  the  ])hysieal 
endurance  of  man  and  beast,  and  the  Sj)aniards  were 
obli,iro(]  to  submit  to  the  siege,  and  to  wait  until  assistance 
should  arrive  from  without,  or  until  the  enenn;  should  be 
weary  of  keeping  watch  upon  them.  The  greatest  annoy- 
ance was  in  the  possession,  by  the  Indians,  of  the  grca.t 
fonress,  from  the  high  tow(>rs  of  which  their  missiles  were 
hurled  with  deadly  effect  upon  all  within  reach. 

It  was  determined  to  storm  this  intrenchnicnt,  and  the 
serviee  was  most  gallantly  ixnibiiiKMl.  J  nan  J'izano,  a 
cavalier  spoken  of  as  superior  to  either  of  his  brothers  in 
humanity,  lost  his  life  in  its  accomjtli.shment.  'Jlie  Peru- 
vian commander,  after  defending  hisposi  in  person,  with  the 
most  desperate  valor,  scorning  to  be  taken  prisoner,  thrcw 
himself  headlong  from  the  highest  tower,  and  j)enslied. 

The  siege,  which  had  commenced  in  the  spring,  contin- 
ued until  August,  when,  after  months  of  anxiety  and 
sufl*ering,  the  little  band  of  Spaniards  were  rejoiced\o  see 
tlie  Tnca's  forces  taking  their  departure.  They  had  been 
dismissed  by  their  leader  to  go  home  and  attend  to  the 
necessary  duties  of  husbandry.  Manco  intrenched  him- 
self at  Tambo,  south  of  the  Yucay. 


jilcs  were 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


]i)d 


Tlic  rising  ajiiong  tlic  I'eruvians  was  very  cxt(>nsivc  and 
well  concerted.  (.Jreat  niinibers  of  detached  })lantations 
and  settlements  were  destroyed,  and  their  Sjianish  occu- 
pants slain.  I*i/ari'o  made  several  inelleetual  attempts  to 
scud  relief  to  tlie  garrison  at  Cu/.co,  which  only  resulted 
ill  heavy  loss  to  his  own  peojilc.  A  general  lecling  of 
gloom,  apj)rehensIon,  and  discontent  prevailetl,  and  not  a 
iew  of  the  settlers,  at  T.ima  and  elsewhere,  were  anxious 
to  al)andou  the  countiy. 

Upon  the  return  of  Almagro  from  his  disastrous  ex])c- 
dition  to  Chili,  and  his  seizure  of  Cuzcc,  he  sueceeiled  in 
driving  the  Iiiea  from  Taud)o  into  the  mountains,  where  he 
sought  out  a  solitary  place  of  concealment  until  ojiportunity 
should  offer  for  again  arousing  his  peojdc  to  resistance. 

In  the  dc:-.olating  civil  wars  which  ensued  among  the 
rival  Spanish  <;laimai.ts  of  the  country,  the  ]-ighls  and 
]»rospcrity  of  the  native  inhahitants  wi-re  utterly  disre- 
gard<'«l.  They  were  luiserupidously  enslaved  and  hial- 
treated  whei'cver  the  power  of  the  S{)aniards  extended. 
in  the  <listracted  state  of  the  country,  the  young  Inca 
again  renewed  his  efforts  at  resistance  to  his  suhjects'  oj)- 
pressors.  Sallying  from  time  to  time  from  an  encampment 
among  the  mountains,  Letween  Cuzeo  and  the  sea-coast,  \m 
did  no  little  injury  to  the  Spanish  settlements,  and  rendei'c'd 
ti'avelling  unsafe,  cxce})t  in  large  and  well-armed  com- 
jtanies.  Although  frequently  defeated  by  Pizarro's  troops, 
he  would  only  retire  to  meditate  fi'csh  attacks,  and  the 
Spanish  commandiM-  linally  thouglit  it  advisable  to  open  a 
ncL-'otiation  with  him.  A  meetiiuj;  was  accordin<dv  ai)- 
pointed  in  the  valley  of  the  Yucay,  but  the  attempts  at 
j)aeificatiou  were  rendered  abortive  by  mutual  outrages. 
A  negro  messenger,  sent  by  Pizarro  to  the  I'l.a  with  a 
]:)ropitiatory  offering,  wi-t*:  roljbed  and  murder  d  by  some 
of  tlie  natives.  The  Spanish  comnumder  chose  to  attribute 
the  a^t  to  M;inces  orders,  and  proceeded  t<;  retaliate  by 


1^1 


'   il 


I; 


.1  i 


'^. 


J 

''!h  i: 

&lmd" 


■  ^    \ 


^M 


1' 


570 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMi:iUCA. 


the  dastardly  and  cruel  murder  of  a  young  and  beautiful 
wife  of  tlic  Inea,  ■who  was  a  prisoner  in  liis  power.  She 
was  stripped  naked,  heaten,  and  afterwards  shot  with 
arrows.  This  cruelty  was  endured,  on  the  ])art  of  the 
victim,  with  true  Indian  fortitude.  What  a  .strange  eon- 
ti-adietion  it  a])pcars,  that  a  man  like  thi.s,  with  his  dviiii: 
lil)s(lic  was  a.ssassinated  in  1541)  should  have  j)ronouncnl 
the  name  of  Ilim  whose  whole  teaching  and  example 
breathed  the  spirit  of  gentleness  and  mercy,  and  that  his 
last  ellbrt  should  have  been  to  kiss  the  figr.re  of  the  cross. 
drawn  by  his  finger,  in  his  own  blood,  uj)on  the  fh^(M'. 

As  the  Spanish  p()i)ulation  of  the  coundy  increa.scd,  the 
condition  of  the  Indians  became  more  anl  iuoro  wretched 
and  de])lorable.  The  old  scenes  at  the  \\'o!-.t  India  Islands 
were  reenacted,  and  the  bi'ulal  [)0]>ni;ice  scjined  to  mak(! 
cruelty  and  wanton  outrage  a  matter  ci  erAulation.  It 
was  not  enough  to  enslave  the  hel]'ie:,.s  natives,  and  to 
e(»  n])el  them  upon  insufRc  ent  nourisiv:  ::t,  and  scantily 
clothed,  to  undergo  tlie  killing  1,  uors  o'"  lac  jnines  and 
plantations;  but  the  most  ca,)riei(>us  ou- rages  were  every 
whei'C  co'iifiui.tee.  They  were  hunted  with  dous,  for 
the  sake  of  sjH)!t;  :\\  that  they  esteemed  sacred  was 
de.secriied;  their  wr.ucn  were  viol'ited  in  the  most 
shameless  manner;  and  cruel  tortures  and  death  awaited 
him  who  should  resist  the  oppressor,  or  invudf^  his  rights 
of  property ! 

One  of  the  most  notorious  abuses  in  the  system  of 
Spanish  government,  and  which  was  maintained  until  after 
the  insurrection  of  1781,  was  called  the  "Hepartiinento." 
This  was  a  compulsory  di.stribution  of  European  goods, 
which  the  natives  were  compelled  to  purchase  at  enormous 
prices.  "The  law  was  doubtless  intended,"  it  is  said  by 
Tschndi,  "in  its  origin,  f(3r  the  advantage  and  convenience 
of  the  native  Indians,  by  supplying  thtMu  with  necessaries 
at.  a  r.'asonablc  price.    13ut  subsequently  the  Eepartimient(/ 


SOUTU  AMERICAN   INDIANS. 


571 


became  a  source  of  oppression  and  fraud,  in  the  hands  of 
the  provincial  autliorities." 

U'iic  system  which  regulated  tlie  services  of  laborers  in 
the  mines  or  on  tlie  plantations  went  by  the  name  of  the 
"  Mita.''  Those  Indians  wlio  wevc  i)hiecd,  ])y  llic;  ojieration 
of  this  sj)ecies  of  conscription,  under  the  power  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  soil,  were  in  a  far  more  miserable  condition 
than  slaves  in  wIkjui  the  master  has  a  jn'opcrty,  and  whose 
health  and  lives  he  has  an  interest  in  presei'vii:;;^.  Such  a 
miserable  })ittanee  as  was  doleil  out  liu'  their  sujijiort,  and 
so  severe  and  unceasing  was  the  labor  recpiiicd  iit  theii- 
hands,  that  an  almost  incredible  number  pi'i'ished,  "Some 
wu'itei's  estinuite  at  nine  millions  the  i.uiid)cr  of  Indians 
saciificed  in  the  mines  in  the  course  of  tliree  centuries." 

When,  by  the  interventi(Ui  of  Las  Casas,  the  wrongs  of 
the  Indians  received  attention  iVom  the  Spanish  coiut,  and 
extensive  provisions  were  made  Ibr  their  I'reidom  and 
protectitui,  all  I'e.u  was  in  a  state  (jf  tumultuous  excite- 
nu;nt.  It  was  the  general  determination  not  to  submit  to 
such  an  infringement  of  the.  lu.xuries  and  jin^lit.-^  ^>l'  life  in 
the  Xew  World,  as  that  of  placing  the  serfs  under  the  care 
of  the  laws.  \a  the  midst  of  this  tui'inoil,  in  15-14,  the 
brave  and  patriotic  Inca  was  slain  by  a  ])arty  of  Span- 
iai'ds,  who  had  fled  to  his  cam})  during  the  fa'  ^us  disturb- 
lUU'CA  by  which  the  Euro])ean  settlements  w  e  convulsed. 
They  paid  the  forfeit  for  this  act  with  theii   iives. 

1'he  first  effectual  stej)s  taken  in  behal'  of  the  \\astc>i 
and  oppressed  Peruvians,  wei'e  undei'  ll  viceroyalty  of 
Pedro  de  la  Gasca,  betwet'u  lo47  and  '..'>0.  By  his  ef- 
foils,  a  careful  inquiry  was  instituted  into  the  condition 
of  the  slaves;  their  arbitrary  I'enioval  from  their  native 
districts  was  prohibited;  and,  above  all,  siiict  regulations 
were  made,  and — not  without  strong  opjjusition — enfciced, 
by  which  the  kind  and  amount  of  their  labor  was  [)recisely 
laid  down. 


i  I 


If  i 


;    ^1 


'i 


tliiiP 
,1 

I 
li    : 


1 1     I 


''I  I     • 

\ 
\ 

y 


'! :' :  ji, 

ill'' 

li 

W^.kr 


ii     ' 


-S-i..-  ..At    I, 


r)72 


INDIAN  RACKS  OF  AMKRICA. 


TujiMC  Amaru,  fi  son  of  \ranco  Capac.  who  had  rosiddl 
ainoii<f  tlio  ronioto  mountain  districts  of  the  intcric^r  since 
liis  father's  death,  was  taken  ])risoner  and  put  to  death 
durinir  the  iieriod  tliat  l''ranciseo  de  'I'oledo  was  viceroy 

o  J.  k 

of  I'eru.  One  of  his  descetuhints,  Jose  Gabriel  Con(h>r- 
eanqni,  known  as  I'upac  Amaru  the  Second,  in  after-times 
fearfully  revenged  tlie  injuries  of  his  family  and  <•  )uiitry- 
men.  The  insurrection  which  he  headed  broke  out  in 
1781.  The  lapse  of  two  centuries  of  oppression  had  thin- 
ned the  teeming  population  of  Peru  in  a  ratio  scan^ely 
precedented,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  Kuroj)ean  wcaj)ons, 
and  military  skill,  both  of  which  they  had,  to  a  certain 
extent,  adopted,  rendered  them  dangerous  enemies,  and 
enough  of  the  old  j);  'riotic  spirit  and  tradition  of  former 
glory  remained  to  alfnrd  material  for  a  fearful  out\)reak. 

The  long  depressed  and  humiliated  natives  rallied 
around  the  dcscei  'l<int  of  tluMr  ancient  line  of  Incas  with 
the  greatest  enthusiasm,  and,  in  their  successful  attacks 
upon  various  provinces  where  Spanish  authority  had  been 
established,  proved  as  merciless  as  their  former  opjiressors, 
Gr(.'at  numbers  of  Spaniards  perished  during  this  rebellion, 
but  it  was  finally  crushed;  and  the  Tnca,  with  a  number 
of  his  family,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  author- 
ities, was  barbarously  put  to  death,  "They  were  all 
quartered,"  says  Bonnyeastle,  "in  the  city  of  Cuzco,  ex- 
ce})tiiig  Diego,  (a  brother  of  Tupac,)  who  had  escaped. 
So  great  was  the  veneration  of  the  Peruvians  for  ']'uj)ac 
Amaru,  that  when  he  was  led  to  execution,  they  prostrated 
themselves  in  the  streets,  though  surrounded  by  soldiers, 
and  uttered  piercing  cries  and  exclamations  as  they  beheld 
the  last  of  the  Children  of  the  Sun  torn  to  pieces." 

Diego  also  perished  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner, 
twenty  years  afterwards,  upon  the  accusation  of  having 
instigated  a  revolt  which  occurred  in  Quito.  Ii  is  !"!aid 
that  the  insurrection  of  the  Indians  under  Tupac  Amaru — 


•'■■R 


I   I 


SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


the  last  important  effort  made  by  tlicm  to  rrcstablisli  their 
ancient  independence — cost  more  than  one  hundred  thou- 
sand lives. 

Since  the  great  revolutions  in  South  America,  and  the 
r,?st;ii)li8hiuout  of  the  independence  of  the  Republics,  the 
Indian  po'iulation  of  Peru  ha\'e  made  no  trifling  advance. 
Aeecjrding  to  the  account  of  Dr.  Tsehudi,  a  late  traveller 
in  the  country,  they  "have  made  iinniense  progress.  Dur 
ing  the  eivil  war,  which  was  kept  up  unintcrruj)tedly  {'o\ 
the  space  of  twenty  years,  they  were  taught  military  ma- 
noeuvi'cs  and  the  use  of  fire-arms.  After  every  lost  battle, 
the  retreating  Indians  carried  with  them,  in  their  flight, 
their  muskels,  which  they  still  keep  carefidly  concealed. 
They  are  also  acquainted  with  the  nuuiufacture  of  gun- 
powiler,  of  which,  in  all  their  festi'"ds,  they  use  great 
quantities  for  sipiibs  and  roekets." 

The  same  writer  describes  the  prestMit  .-haracter  of  the 
race  as  gloomy  and  distrustful.  'Ilie  Ciiristian  religion 
has  been,  at  least  in  name,  almost  universally  diffused,  but 
the  ob.scrvance  of  hi  rites  is  mingled  with  many  relies  of 
th'3  ancient  superstitions  of  the  country,  while  the  Vugotry, 
errors,  and  evil  cxanqile  of  too  many  of  those  who  hav*; 
acted  as  its  ministers  could  hardly  result  in  the  inculcation 
of  tlie  true  spirit  of  their  faith.  During  the  whole  ])eri(wl 
of  Spanish  authority,  from  the  time  of  the  first  landmg, 
the  Catholic  ecclesiiustics  were  unwearied  in  endeavors  to 
promulgate  their  religion.  Their  success  in  ejecting  at 
lea.st  an  outward  accej)tation  of  its  doctrines,  hus  been  ao 
where  more  signal  than  in  South  America. 


ite 


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J,  : 
ll 


THE  ARAUCANIAN   RACE. 


CIIAl'TKU   I. 

'HEIR  LOrATION.  APPKARANCK,  ETC. — I'URCHAs'  DKSCRIPTJON  OF  TBI 

LI niVISION  OF  THE  TRIHKS — I'KUrVlAN  rONQt'ESTS AGRICHL- 

TrUE,  ARTS,  ETC..  AMONd  TIIK   NATIVES — AI.MACUo's  INVASION 

EXl'KniTION  OK    TEORO    OE  VAI.niVIA  —  KOrNl>lN(;  OF  ST. 

JAUO — r.ATTI.ES  WITH  THE  MArOi'HlNIANS — OESTUUCTION 
QF  SPANISH  MINERS — I'EAOE  WITH  TIIK  FROM AtlCIANS. 

TiiK  dilVoivnt  tribos  boloiiging  to  this  bold  ami  warlike 
raco  inhabit  Chili  ami  wostorii  Pataironia,  coinincmMiig 
about  latitiulo  tliirty  tlouroos,  ami  oxtoiuliiig  to  Terra  dol 
Ku(\uo.  Tho  IVohorais  of  that  islaiul  havo  also  boon  olassc  d 
in  tho  sanio  lainily,  ami  their  general  oonfonnation  of  fi^- 
inv  and  features,  exeopt  so  far  as  the  witherin<;j  inlluonee 
{A'  I'old  and  squalid  destitution  have  deteriorated  the  race, 
would  i^'.'Oiu  to  warrant  tho  eonelusiou  that  the  two  nations 
wore  of  identieal  oriuin. 

The  inountaineoj-s  of  Chili  arc  of  a  nmoh  liirhtor  com 
ploxion  than  tho  aboriginal  nations  either  north  or  south 
i>f  them;  tho  tribe  oi'  Horoam>s  in  partieidar  have  been 
ileseribod  as  being  little,  if  anv,  darker  than  Kuropoans. 
The  men  are  tall,  hardy,  and  vigorous,  with  exooedingly 
nmseular  lind>s:  their  faees  are  broad,  and  their  features 
ratlior  heavy  and  eoarso,  but  without  the  aj^poaranee  of 
stupiditv  or  dullness:  they  have  tho  bright  eye  and  coarse 
lilaek  hair  oi'  the  Indian.  Some  of  tluMu  are  noiieod  with 
heavy  beards,  but  generally  this  appendage  is  thin  and 


^'■'\M 


l^li*' 


THE  AUAUCAXIAN  KACE. 


c>(0 


BOrtnty,  and  the  common  barbarous  custom  of  eradicating 
it  with  some  substitute  for  twce/er  is  resorted  to. 

Ahhi^uiili  a  considerable  dillcrence  is  observable  between 
the  inhabitants  of  the  mountains  and  the  plains,  in  si/c, 
complexion,  &e.,  ycl  the  simihirity  in  hm^niage  and  gen- 
eral aj>pearancc  is  considered  snilii'icnt  to  warrant  the 
conclusion  that  all  originally  spi'ung  fn >ni  the  same  stock. 

In  "Purehas  his  IMlgrimage,"  we  liiid  the  following 
quaint  description  of  the  physical  aspect  of  the  coniitry: 

''It  is  called  Chili  of  the  cliilliiig  cold,  f^r  so  the  word 
is  sayd  to  siu:nilie.     The  Hills  with  their  hiuh  looker  cold 

*/  C  0  7 

blasts,  and  couetous  encrochings,  driuo  it  almost  into  the 
Sea:  only  a  narrow  Valley  vj)on  lowly  submission  to  her 
swelling  atlversarics,  obtavneth  roome  ibr  luie  and  tv.'cntie 
leagues  of  breadth,  where  it  is  most,  to  extend  her  spa- 
cious length  of  two  hundred  leagues  on  that  slion^:  ai.d 
to  withstand  the  ocean's  furit>,  slice  paics  a  large  tribute 
<jf  many  streames,  which  yet  in  the  night  time  shce  can 
hardly  j)erformc;  the  miserable  Hills,  in  their  Fmzcn  chari- 
tie,  not  imparting  that  naturall  bountie  and  dutic,  till  that 
great  Arbiter  the  Sunne  ariseth,  and  scndcth  l>ay  with  his 
lightdiorse  trouj>e  of  Sunne4)eames  to  breake  vp  those 
Icie  Dunueons  and  Snowie  'J'urrcts,  wherein  Ni'jiit,  the 
Mountaincs  Gaoler,  had  locked  the  innocent  \Vaters. 
Once,  the  poore  Valley  is  so  hanqiercd  betwixt  the  'JVran- 
nicall  Meteors  and  Elements,  as  that  slice  often  quaketli 
with  feare,  and  in  these  chill  Feuers  shaketh  of  and  loosetli 
her  best  ornaments. 

*  *  "And  sometimes  the  neiahbour  hils  arc  infected 
with  this  pestilent  Feuer,  and  tumble  downe  as  dead  in 
the  plaine,  therebj''  so  amazing  the  fearefull  Riuers,  tha.t 
thev  ruiine  quite  out  of  tluur  Channclls'  to  seeke  new,  or 
else  stand  still  with  wonder;  and  the  niotiue  heat  failing, 
fall  into  an  vneouth  tympanic,  their  bellies  swelling  into 
spacious  and  standing  Lakes." 


Ck  t 


.m 


M 


:i  ^'if 


L 


% 


I'  '    ■  I 


n 


■li'ki 


570 


INDIAN  RACKS  l)K  AMKUICA. 


"Whnn  the  western  e(xist  of  South  Aineriea  wns  first 
visited  hy  Muro[)eaiis,  ii  jiortion  of  ChiU  was,  a.s  hefore- 
iiieiitioiitMl,  suhjeet  to  tlie  I'cruviaii  inoiiarchy.  Tlie  Chi- 
Han  trihcs,  a('t'<)nliiig  to  Molina,  were  fiCtiH'ii  in  nuinhcr, 
each  independent,  and  goveiMied  \>y  its  I'hnen,  or  eaeicpie. 
"  these  tril»cs,  beginning  at  the  north  and  proeeeiUng  to 
the  soutli,  were  ealled  Copiaj»ins,  Corpiirnhanes,  (iuillo- 
tanes,  Mapoeliini;uis,  I'roniaiieiaiis,  Cures,  C^nujUes,  Pen- 
eones,  Araueaiiians,  C'unelies,  Chilotes,  (^hin(niilaniaiis, 
Pehiienches,  Puelelies,  and  Iluillielies."  Tlio  first  four  of 
tliese,  about  the  iniiMle  ol'  tlie  fil'teentli  centurv,  wen;  re- 
duced  by  the  Tnea  '\'upaii([ui,  without  nuieh  oj)position, 
but  the  Proniaueiaas  opposed  so  vigorous  a  resistance  tliat 
the  progress  of  the  Peruvian  anus  was  cfVeetually  stay<Ml. 
I'he  (.'onquered  j)rovinces  were  all(;wed  to  retain  their  na- 
tional government  and  customs,  upon  payment  of  tribute 
to  the  fnca. 

'J'he  ChiHans  were,  at  this  early  period,  not  only  bold 
and  slcillful  in  war,  but  had  made  much  greater  advances 
in  the  arts  of  civilization  than  any  other  South  American 
race  except  the  Peruvians.  The  country  was  loo  j^opu- 
lous  to  be  sustained  by  the  precarious  pursuits  of  hunting, 
fishing,  kc,  and  a  nide  but  systematic  cultivation  of  the 
soil  had  become  universal.  The  vegetable  productions 
brought  under  cultivation  were  mostly  the  same  with  tho.se 
used  in  Peru,  and  the  native  sheep  or  "camel,"  was  donics- 
tieat(Ml,  as  in  that  countrv.  This  animal  furnished  the 
wool  for  the  garments  of  those  Avho  inhabited  the  western 
vallies — the  wilder  races  of  the  cast  and  south  were  clotheil 
in  akin.s,  principally  of  the  guanaco,  a  species  of  wild  goat. 

Their  liouses  were  generally  square,  built  of  brick,  oi 
of  wood  jilastered  with  cla}',  and  thatched  with  rushes 
Culinary  utensils  were  formed  of  stone,  wood,  or  earthen- 
ware. They  wrought,  with  some  skill,  in  the  usual  metallic 
productions  of  the  country,  using,  like  the  Peruvians,  a 


\ 


^"a." 


'"'I 


/r 


^-Ss-- 


•V-i     -^     ii 


', .  Ill 


r/ZK    rJtss.iar.    of    i  h  r    <  a  u  i>  1  /■  r  r.  it  .1  ^. 

"ALMAUR..,in«len.l  of  »'lvm,ci.,ij  nl,.n«  ll.e   Uv.-l  .-..Mnlry  on   tl.o  c....,  Cl.—  l,. 
miircl,  acr.m  the  „umn.uii.«  l.v  u  ro.u,  ll,a-.  «u.  »l.„rl.-r,  i.Mr. -l,  l.u;  nl.....«l  .in,.-'.  -  - 

We.    In  Ihe  ullc.npi,  >"*  Ir^ops  wer«  exposed  U.  every  cuLimily  wind.  .uu.>  -I'l''  • 

tun,  fHtigtie,  rr..m  famine,  unJ  iVom  the  ri^'.,r.  ..rti.e  cM.ni.le  in  tlw«u  .;!.;<. a.-.i  n-^u.u..' 
-  lIuilKK  rsoN, 


lli 


i^'  ^■■ 


'■r<\ 


'l;  \m  II 


■'I1 


•1 


^% 


^^ 


■^^   '"  n% 


k> 


o^;\^%^s. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


I  !^  IIIM 

i   1^    12.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

-m 6"     - 

► 

VW 


<? 


/w 


^1 


'/ 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


t/u 


TUE  AKAUCANIAN  RACE, 


;j7  i 


hardened  alloy  of  copjKjr,  with  other  inettils,  as  a  suhstitute 
for  iron.  In  eommoii  with  the  latter  nation,  a  system  of 
recording  events  or  statisties  by  the  "quipu,"  was  all  that 
was  observable  as  analogous  to  the  art  of  writing. 

The  I'roinauciiins,  whose  courage  and  patriotism  had  a 
century  bc-'fore  checked  the  advance  of  the  royal  forces 
of  the  Inca,  were  found  no  less  formidable  by  the  first 
Spanish  invaders.  Almagro,  after  his  frightful  passage 
of  the  Cordilleras,  in  which,  as  is  said,  he  lost  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Spaniards,  and  some  ten  thousand  Indian  allies, 
was  well  received  by  the  tributary  provinces  of  Chili, 
lie  collected  no  small  booty  in  gold,  which  he  distributed 
among  his  followers,  and  continued  his  march  to  Coquimbo. 
Here  he  was  guilty  of  an  act  of  barbarity  too  common 
wherever  the  Spaniards  of  that  time  were  successful  in 
their  Indian  campaigns.  Two  of  his  soldiers  had  been 
put  to  death  at  Guaseo,  in  consequence  of  some  acts  of 
rapacity  or  violence,  and  in  revenge,  Almagro  seized  and 
burned  alive  the  cliief  of  the  district,  with  his  brother 
and  twenty  other  of  the  native  inhabitants. 

^[arcliing  into  the  province  of  the  Promaucians,  the 
Spaniards  found  an  enemy  superior  to  any  before  encoun- 
tered. Not  even  the  terrors  of  the  cavalry  and  weapons 
of  the  Europeans  could  daunt  the  brave  mountaineers, 
who  rallied  nnder  the  banners  of  their  chiefs  for  the  pro- 
tection of  home  and  country.  A  single  battle  was  suffi- 
cient to  satisfy  the  invaders  that  little  was  to  be  gained 
by  any  further  advance,  and  Almagro,  with  his  troops, 
returned  to  Peru,  as  heretofore  related,  to  .seize  upon 
Cuzco  as  being  contained  within  the  grant  made  to  him 
by  the  crown. 

In  1540,  Pedro  de  Valdivia,  a  bold  and  active  Spanish 
soldier,  and  high  in  the  confidence  of  Pizarro,  was  com- 
missioned to  lead  the  second  expedition  against  the  pro- 
vinces of  Chili.  He  took  with  him  two  hundred  Spaniards 
37 


'i*  i   . 


.i"l        :i: 


I'     ' 


•tt'!i 


^Mh  iiiiHi, 


"    ':i 


II   ii. 


l!li/ 


■ '  T 


t  i  I 


I'll 


!.,) 


'1  11 


578 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMEKICA. 


and  a  large  body  of  I'cruvians,  with  the  intent  of  f(;rm« 
iiii^  a  colony  and  comniencing  a  {)crmancnt  settlement. 
Some  of  the  domestic  animals  of  l^vuropc  ■were  taken  fur 
use  of  the  new  colon  v,  and  a  number  of  women  and  cecle- 
siastics  were  added  to  the  company. 

Crossing  the  mountains  during  the  favorable  season  of 
summer,  Yaldivia  entered  Chili,  but  found  on  his  arrival 
that  the  northern  tribes,  freed  from  tlie  yoke  of  the  Incas, 
were  disposed  to  reassert  their  former  independence.  ^Die 
want  of  union,  however,  prevented  them  from  being  al)le 
to  stem  the  ])rogress  of  the  Spaniards.  The  invader 
pressed  on,  crushing  all  o{)position,  to  Majiocho,  the  j)ruv- 
ince^where  he  founded  the  city  of  St.  Jago. 

While  the  new  ca})ital  was  in  ])rogress  of  construction, 
the  natives  of  the  district  fell  boldly  upon  the  intruders, 
burned  their  buildings,  and  drove  them  into  a  fort  which 
they  had  constructed  in  the  centre  of  the  toAvn.  ^J'hc 
Spaniards  were  eventually  victorious;  but  the  spirit  f)f 
the  Mapochonians  was  not  broken,  and  for  years  afterwards 
they  continued  to  harass  the  settlers  in  every  possible 
manner.  The  opening  of  the  rich  mines  of  the  valley  of 
Quillota  reconciled  the  colonists  to  every  danger  and 
privation;  and,  for  convenient  communication  with  Peru, 
a  vessel  was  built  in  the  river  Chile,  which  flows  throuuli 
that  district. 

Yaldivia  now  sent  emissaries  to  Peru,  under  convoy  of 
thirty  mounted  men,  to  beat  up  for  recruits.  These  mes- 
sengers were  eight  in  number,  and,  as  a  bait  to  new  adven- 
turers, their  "spurs,  bits,  and  stirrups  he  directed  to  bo 
made  of  gold."  A  body  of  Copiapans  attacked  this  party 
on  their  route,  and  slew  all  except  two,  named  Alonzo 
Monroy  and  Pedro  Miranda,  whom  they  carried  to  their 
ulraen  or  cacique.  By  the  intervention  of  the  chief's 
wife  their  lives  were  spared,  and  they  were  engaged  to 
teach  the  young  prince,  her  son,  the  art  of  riding.     The 


I 


ilie 
able 
nvadcr 

])R)V- 


lers. 


THE  AKAUCANIAN    KACE. 


579 


ungrateful  Sjiuniurds  took  adviintage  of  the  confidence 
placed  in  thctn,  to  murder  their  charge  and  escape  on  the 
horses.  They  succeeded  in  reaching  Peru,  and  procured 
a  considerable  number  of  adventurers  to  try  their  fortunes 
in  the  new  and  promising  regions  of  the  S(juth. 

^I'lic  Chilians  did  not  quietly  submit  to  Spanish  en- 
croachments. The  iidiubitants  of  Qui  1  lota,  by  an  artful 
stratagem,  drew  the  Sj)aniards  connected  with  the  mines 
into  an  ambuscade,  and  murdered  nearly  the  whole  num- 
ber; they  followed  u[)  their  advantage  by  burning  the 
military  stores  and  the  vessel  which  had  been  built  at 
the  river  Chile.  Valdivia  had  the  good  fortune  or  skill 
to  overawe  or  conciliate  the  Promaucians,  and  an  alliance 
was  formed  between  the  Sj)aniards  and  that  tribe. 


ClIAPTKR  II. 

THE  ARAUCANIANS  PROPEU — CHAHACTER  AND  HABITS  OF  THE  TRIDB 
HOUSES    AND    DRESS — SECT.ONAL    DIVISIONS    AND    GOVERN- 
MENT— SYSTEM    OF  WARFARE — COURAGE    AND    MILITARY 

SKILL RELIGIOUS  BELIEF  AND    SUPERSTITIONS 

PATRIOTISM     AND     PUBLIC     SPIRIT     OF     THE 

NATIVES — Molina's  eulogium. 

Pushing  his  conquests  and  acquisitions  further  to  the 
southward,  the  Spanish  commander,  in  1550,  founded  the 
city  of  Conception,  but  as  the  occupation  of  this  spot  led 
to  the  important  events  connected  with  the  Araucanian 
war,  we  will  follow  the  order  of  Molina,  and  give  a  brief 
account  of  the  warlike  people  with  whom  the  Spaniards 
were  now  to  contend. 

This  author  speaks  enthusiastically  of  the  noble  char- 
acter of  the  Araucanians,  their  physical  perfection,  and 


1)1 


!i:;lt 


\ih  W' 


•■l!i 


ill  ill 


lJ.;.i 


if ' 


C   I 


fe  I 


llivjf 


!■     ..M 


\r'^'^^  I' 


!!..H!i 


5S0 


INDIAN'  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


tlicir  powers  of  endurance.  He  says  "they  are  iiitrepid, 
animated,  ardent,  patient  in  enduring  fatigue,  ever  ready 
to  sacrifice  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country,  en- 
thusiastic lovers  of  liberty,  which  they  consider  as  an 
essential  constituent  of  their  existence,  jcah)us  of  their 
honour,  couileous,  hospitable,  faithful  to  their  engage- 
ments, grateful  for  services  rendered  them,  aiul  generous 
and  humane  towards  the  vanquished."  Their  failings,  on 
the  other  hand,  are  "drunkenness,  debauchery,  presump- 
tion, and  a  haughty  contcmi)t  for  all  other  nations." 

The  district  of  Arauco,  from  which  the  nation  takes  its 
name,  is  bu^  a  small  province  of  the  country  inhabited  by 
the  race,  ^riiis  lies  in  the  beautiful  region  between  Con- 
ception and  Valdivia,  extending  back  among  the  moun- 
tains. The  inhabitants  dwelt,  in  primitive  simplicity, 
congregated  in  no  large  towns,  but  thickly  scattered  over 
the  country  in  small  rural  villages.  Their  domestic  and 
household  arrangements  were  little  more  refined  than  we 
have  described  as  common  in  Chili.  Polygamy  was  gen- 
erally practised,  and  "the  size  of  their  houses  proportioned 
to  the  number  of  women  they  could  maintain." 

The}^  wore  woolen  clothing,  woven  from  the  fleece  of 
the  native  sheep,  and  consisting  of  close  fitting  under  gar- 
ments, and  over  all  the  national  Poncho,  a  most  conve- 
nient and  easily-constructed  cloak,  especially  adapted  to 
the  use  of  horsemen.  The  women  wore  long  dresses, 
with  a  short  cloak,  both  fastened  with  ornamental  brooches 
of  silver. 

The  Araueanian  system  of  government  is  described  by 
"Molina  as  being  an  hereditary  aristocracy.  The  country 
was  divided  from  north  to  south  into  four  sections,  the 
mountainous  region  at  the  east,  the  high  land  at  the  base 
of  the  Andes,  the  adjoining  plain,  and  the  sea  coast.  Each 
division  was  under  the  nominal  sway  of  a  Toqui,  or  su- 
preme cacique,  but  the  real  power  was  in  the  body  of  the 


trepid, 
ready 
ly,  on- 
its  ;in 
tlu'ir 
iigage- 
iierous 
igs,  on 

SLlIlip- 

v'cs  its 

ted  by 

u  Cou- 

iiioun- 

)lieity, 

I  over 

ic  and 

lan  we 

IS  gen- 

■tioued 

ecc  of 
jr  gar- 
coiive- 
ted  to 
resses, 
^oches 

•ed  by 
luntry 
s,  the 
3  base 
Each 
3r  su- 
)f  the 

I 


I 


TUE  AIIAUCANIAN   llACE. 


581 


robility  or  Ulmcncs,  who  piiesided  over  the  varioiLS  sub- 
divisions of  the  state,  and  who  decided  in  gi'and  council 
upon  public  matters.  Our  author  docs  not  sj)eak  very 
higlily  of  the  judicial  institutions  of  the  country.  Much 
trouble  ensued  from  a  system  of  retaliation  by  which  minor 
oflences  were  allowed  to  bo  punished.  The  ca})ital  crimes 
were  "treachery,  intentional  homicide,  adultery,  the  rob- 
hcry  of  any  valuable  article,  and  witchcraft.  Neverthe- 
less, those  found  guilty  of  homicide  can  screen  themselves 
from  ])unishment  by  a  composition  with  the  relations  of 
the  iuurdercd."  Each  father  of  a  family  assumed  and  ex- 
ercised absolute  power  over  his  wives  and  children,  and, 
by  the  custom  of  the  country,  he  was  not  responsible  even 
for  taking  their  lives. 

In  war,  as  among  the  ruder  North  American  tribes,  the 
direction  and  command  of  the  armies  was  not  conferred 
upon  the  suj^remc  civil  potentate,  urdcss  from  his  known 
skill  and  bravery  he  was  deemed  fully  competent.  A 
war-chief  was  not  unusually  appointed  from  among  the 
inferior  oflicers,  and,  when  this  was  done,  an  absolute  dic- 
tatorship was  vested  in  the  chosen  leader. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards  in  Chili,  the 
Araucanians  began  to  su|)ply  themselves  with  horses.  Those 
which  they  obtained  in  battle  multiplied  to  an  immense 
extent,  and  the  native  inhabitant?  speedily  acquired  a  re- 
markable degree  of  skill  in  their  training  and  management. 
Swords,  lances,  slings,  bows,  pikes,  and  clubs  were  the 
national  weapons. 

Such  skill  in  the  arts  of  war,  in  fortifications,  in  military 
regularity  and  discipline,  and  such  bravery  and  efficiency 
in  the  open  field,  as  was  evinced  by  the  Araucanians  in 
their  long  contests  with  the  Sj)aniards,  entirely  exceed 
any  thing  recorded  of  the  other  American  races. 

The  terrific  destruction  caused  hy  artillery  failed  to  con- 
fuse or  a])pal  them.     In  the  words  of  Molina:   "As  soon 


':,  '  !,n 


I    ! 


nif 


'iliii'f' 


MM 


i  'I 


mvi' 


'"i 


iiii- 


''|;|!i 
.!|!lii:. 


'ihl|:l; 


m  m. 


ii 


M  '^^ 


1  la  I 


'  / 


I  I 


./ 


\U 


'}  ••■■  ff 


Hi* 


ii 


Hi  I 


582 


INDIAN  RACKS  OV  AMKUICA. 


as  the  lirst  line  is  cut  down,  ^lic  second  occuj)ics  its  place, 
luul  then  the  third,  until  they  iinully  succeed  in  breaking 
the  Iront  iaid<s  (jf  the  enemy.  In  the  midst  ol' their  I'ury, 
they  nevertheless  preserve  the  strictest  order,  and  pei'lonn 
all  the  evolutions  directed  hy  their  ollicers.  The  most 
terrible  of  them  are  the  clul>bearers,  who,  like  so  many 
llereuleses,  destroy  with  their  iron-pointed  nuices  all  they 
meet  in  llieir  way." 

.Altera  battle,  the  prisoners  taken  were  held  tis  slaves 
until  ransomed  or  exchanged:  in  some  rare  instances  a 
single  captive  would  be  sacriliced.  This  was  done,  (with- 
out torture,)  after  the  ])eri'ormance  of  a  singular  juvliminary 
ceremonial.  The  victim  was  brought  forwai'd  "upc^u  a 
horse  deprived  of  his  cars  and  tail — as  a  mark  of  igno- 
miny." The  proper  ollicers  then  handed  him  a  pointed 
stake,  and  a  number  of  small  sticks.  He  was  comjielled 
to  dig  a  hole  in  the  earth  with  the  stake ;  and  to  throw  the 
sticks  severally  into  it;  naming,  at  each  east,  one  of  the 
most  renowned  chiefs  of  liis  own  country,  "  while,  at  the 
same  time,  the  surrounding  soldiers  loaded  these  abhorred 
names  with  the  bitterest  execrations."  After  he  had 
been  forced  to  cover  the  hole  "as  if  to  bury  therein  tne 
reputation  and  valor  of  their  enemies,"  some  one  of  the 
principal  chiefs  destroyed  the  captive  by  the  blow  of  a 
war-club.  His  heart,  it  is  said,  was  then  taken  out,  and  a 
little  blood  sucked  from  it  by  the  officers  standing  around ; 
after  which,  the  body  was  dismembered,  the  bones  were 
used  for  flutes,  and  the  skull,  (if  not  cracked,)  served  for  a 
drinking  vesseh 

All  this  sounds  excessively  barbarous,  but  Molina  tells 
us  that  only  one  or  two  instances  of  the  kind  occurred 
during  a  period  of  nearly  tv,  o  hundred  years. 

The  religious  belief  of  the  Araucanians  appears  to  have 
borne  a  strong  resemblance  to  that  of  many  North  Amer- 
ican tribes.     The  idea  of  a  supreme  being;  of  good  and 


I'lace, 
'akiiig 
I'liry, 
'ilbnii 

IlKASt 

niaiiy 
tlH.y 


THE  ARAUCANIAX  RACE. 


583 


evil  spirits,  especially  one  great  demon  named  Gueeuhu; 
of  a  futun;  state  of  rewards  and  punishments,  and  the  ini- 
iiiortality  of  the  soul,  v/ere  universal.  A  vast  number  of 
superstitious  si^nis  and  omens,  some  of  them  singularly 
analogous  to  those  of  aneient  Kurojiean  nations,  were 
drawn  from  eailhrpiakes,  storms,  the  flight  of  birds,  and 
other  natural  phenomena. 

Each  })erson  believed  himself  under  ihe  special  care  of 
a  guardian  angel,  or  familiar  spirit,  to  wliosc  aid  and  in- 
fluence success  in  any  pursuit  was  generally  referred.  The 
Catholic  missionaries  were  received  with  resj)ect  and  kind- 
ness, but  owing  to  a  natural  })hlegm  or  indiflerence  tosuch 
abstractions,  they  met  with  but  little  success  in  their  eflbrts 
at  promulgating  their  doctrines. 

^i'he  tradition  of  a  deluge,  so  universally  spread  through- 
out the  world,  was  current  among  these  Indians,  and  in 
many  other  respects  analogies,  whether  casual  or  not,  could 
be  traced  between  their  belief  and  observances  and  those 
of  the  old  world.  The  cen monies  and  faneiful  conceptions 
connected  with  the  sepulture  of  the  dead,  if  correctly  re- 
ported, are  not  unlike  many  of  those  recorded  of  the 
ancients. 

Besides  the  compound  of  sorcerer  and  j)hysician,  whose 
services  were  required  by  the  sick,  as  in  every  other  part 
of  America  when  the  country  was  first  discovered,  the 
Araucanians  had  medical  professors  who  made  no  preten- 
sions to  supernatural  powers.  '^I'hese  are  said  to  have 
possessed  considerable  skill  in  the  diagnosis  of  diseases, 
and  in  the  administration  of  simple  remedies.  Others 
devoted  their  attention  to  the  treatment  of  broken  limbs 
and  ulcers,  which  the}"  accomplished  with  no  small  success. 

Among  the  peculiarities  of  national  character  observable 
in  the  race  the  most  prominent  has  ever  been  an  indomita- 
ble spirit  of  patriotism,  and  a  pride  in  their  own  country 
and  usages,  leading  to  a  supreme  contempt  for  all  other 


m 


11,1 


■1"' 


\¥:a 


111 


1 1 


II;  m 


;l 


t 


584 


INDIAN   llACES  OF  AMKIUCA. 


nations.  They  regard  their  own  raec  as  one  vast  broth- 
erh(j()(l,  every  member  ol"  whieh  id  bound  to  assist  and 
belrieiid  liis  neighbor.  MoHna  sa3-s:  "The  benevoliMicu 
and  kindness  with  whieh  tiiese  ])c(j|)lu  treat  eaeli  otlier  i.s 
rrally  surprising.  *  *  From  tiie  mutual  ailection  which 
subsists  between  them,  pioceeds  thuir  soHeitude  reeiju-u- 
cally  to  assist  eaeh  other  in  their  neeessities.     Not  a  bo--- 

o 

gar  or  an  indigent  person  is  to  he  lound  thi'oughout  the 
wliole  Araueanian  territory;  even  the  most  inlii'in  and 
incapable  of  subsisting  themselves  are  deeently  elythed. 

"This  benevolenee  is  not,  however,  eon  lined  wholly  to 
their  own  eountrymen;  they  eonduet  with  the  greatest 
liospitality  towards  all  strangers,  of  whatever  luition,  and  ii 
traveller  may  live  in  any  part  of  their  country  without 
the  least  expense." 

The  above  account  is  probably  rather  highly  colored ; 
indeed,  this  author  has  been  accused  of  no  little  exaggera- 
tion in  his  comments  upon  Araueanian  civilization.  Noth- 
ing is  more  common  than  for  a  writer  to  be  carried  away 
by  his  subject;  the  biograi)her  almost  universally  deities 
his  hero,  and  the  historian  of  a  particular  nation  is  but 
too  apt  to  fall  into  a  similar  error. 

In  their  houses  and  persons,  the  Araueanians  have  been 
described  as  standing  in  agreeable  contrast  with  most  of 
the  aboriginal  Americans,  by  a  most  remarkable  cleaidi' 
ness.  In  this  respect  they  might  well  rival,  if  not  surpass, 
the  most  polished  society  of  Europe. 


THE  AUAUCANIAX  RACE.  585 


CIIArTEIl  III. 

AhMY  SENT  TO  OPPOSK  THK  I'ltOfiKKSS  OK  TIIK  SPANIARDS — HATTf-B 

ON  TIIK  ANDAMK.N — MNTOYAn's  CA.Ml'AKi.N  —  VA  LDIVIa's  MAUCII 

SOUTIIWAKl) — KoU.NDATION  OF  VAMJIVIA,  AM)  KSTA  IILISII.M  KNT 

OF  FORTS    IN    TIIK  AUAUCANIAN    TKIildTOUY — TIIK    NATIVES 

ROUHKl)  llYl'Ol.orOLo — CAIfPoMCAN'  .'MADK  TIHJl'I HIS  SUC- 

CESSKS (JIIKAT  VICTOKY  OVKIl  TIIK  SPA  MA  I!  US DKATII 

OF  VAMHVIA INVASION  OF  AKACCO  liV  Vll,i,A(il{ AN  — 

HIS  DEFEAT — DESTIUICTION  OF  CONCEPTION;— l^AIITA- 
Ko's    FATAL    EXPEDITION    AflAINST    SANTlAfJO. 

Ix  order  to  cheek  tlic  lulvuiiee  of  the  Spaniards,  tlio 
Ar.iucanians  dctcriuiiicd  not  to  await  an  actual  invasion 
of  tlieir  own  territory,  but  to  cross  the  river  Biodjio,  which 
formed  tlic  boundaiy  of  their  countrv,  and  attack  thein  in 
force  at  their  quarters  iu  the  adjoining  i)rovinco  of  Pcnco. 
The  great  cacicj^uo  or  'i'o(|ui,  Ailhivihi,  with  sevei'al  tliou- 
sand  warriors,  was  comniissioned  for  this  Ker\ice.  The 
Spanish  arin_y  was  encountered  on  the  hanks  of  the  An- 
daheii,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  the  liistory  of  American 
conquest,  experienced  the  ])ower  of  an  enemy  little  infe- 
rior in  skill,  and  fully  equal  in  courage  and  determination 
to  the  trained  soldiery  of  Europe. 

The  Indians  fought  with  desperate  valor,  regardless  of 
the  murderous  effect  of  the  Spanish  fire-arms;  but  their 
leader  Aillavilu,  rashly  exposing  himself  in  the  hottest 
of  the  engagement,  was  slain,  and  his  followers  made  an 
orderly  retreat,  unpursued  by  the  Spaniards,  To  secure 
himself  against  future  danger,  Yaldivia  at  once  erected  a 
strong  fort  near  his  newly-founded  city  of  Conception. 
This  was  in  1551,  and  in  the  following  year  the  bold 
mountaineers  of  the  south  determined  upon  another  great 
effort  to  dislodge  the  dangerous  colony. 


*    i 


fli 


''   f 


'"  <  i 


!i'i 

i!'i 


•I 
ill 


l\  ;i 


>86 


INDIAN  UACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


One  L 


rii 


.n. 


stntni 


(I 


irnpoan 


incoyan, 

ni)|)(';ir.'iii('c,  was  creuUMl  coiiiiiiuinlcr  of  tli<'  aniiics.  In 
tlii'cc  bodies  tlie  Araiicaiiiaiis  fMI  upon  tlu;  Spaniards,  and 
di'ovo  tlii'iM  within  tla.'  fort.  lIopcUss  of  i'llt'(;tiii,<f  any 
tiling a^^ainst  tlii.s.stron;.diol(l,  Lincoyun  drt'w  oil'  liis  forces: 
111!  is,  indeed,  jieciised  by  historians  of  u  degree  of  irresohi- 
tion  and  timidity  unworthy  of  liis  race. 

Valdivia,  lefl  in  undisturbed  jjossession  of  his  new  ter- 
ritories, went  on  with  th(3  woi-k  of  biiihling  liis  city,  and 
strcn^fthening  his  j)()sition.  In  loo'J  he  felt  sufTieient  eon- 
fidiMiee  in  the  number  of  his  followers,  augmented  by  fresh 
arrivals  from  Peru,  to  undertake  active  optn'ations  against 
the  Araucanians.  Lincoyan  was  still  in  eon;mand,  and  his 
elforts  failed  to  arrest  tiu;  progress  of  the  invaders,  who 
pressed  on  to  the  river  Cauten,  in  the  heart  of  the  liostilo 
territory.  Here  Valdivia  laid  the  Ib'st  foinidations  of  tlu; 
future  city  Imperial,  and  sent  Alderetc,  one  of  his  ofTicers, 
to  commence  the  fornuition  of  a  settlement  by  the  lake  of 
Lauqnen. 

From  this  point  the  Sj)anish  commander  made  his  way 
to  the  southern  border  of  the  Araueanian  teri'itory,  where 
the  river  Caliacalla  divided  it  from  that  of  the  Cunehes, 
cx])eriencing  little  oi)position  from  the  vacillating  and 
cautious  Lincoyan.  The  Cunchcs,  in  great  force,  were 
prepared  to  ojjpose  his  entry  into  their  domains;  but,  ac- 
cording to  the  accounts  handed  down  to  us,  they  were 
persuaded  to  lay  aside  their  j)urpose,  by  a  native  woman, 
named  liecloma.  Valdivia  was  therefore  enabled  to  cross 
the  river  in  safety,  and  to  found  a  city  upon  its  southern 
bank,  upon  which  he  bestowed  his  own  family  name. 

On  his  return,  in  1553,  he  erected  forts  in  the  provinces 
of  Puren,  Tucapel  and  Arauco.  1'hcse  operations  were 
not  carried  on  without  hostilities  with  the  natives;  but,  in 
consequence,  as  is  said,  of  the  ineflicicncy  of  the  military 
chief  at  their  head,  all  their  efforts  were  unsuccessful,  and 


the  Sp 
cnemv 

Vah 
sent  fo 
nifieen 
count) 
part 

hopes 

ent'C 
native 
set  hii 
resist; 
out 


'posing         W 

i'».    In        E 

ds,  and      !     1 

'M-  any      |     | 
'••rocs:     1 

•w  tor-           ; 
y,  and 

it  eon-           ' 

\  fivsh 

i.Lrainst 

nd  his           1 

S  who           l 

liostilo 

of  tho    ; 

friccrs,      1 

ike  of                , 

s  M'iiy 

udiere 

lehes, 
and 

were 

t,  ac-      1          , 

were 

man, 

cross 

bern                ^ 

nces 

were 

t,  in 

tarj 

and 

THK  ARAUCANIAN   RACE. 


68; 


llie  Spaniards  were  beginning,'  to  di-spiso  the  power  ol'  an 
enemy  who  was  in  al'ter-titues  to  provi;  invineibh'. 

VaMivia  retired  to  Concfption,  ('mm  which  town  lio 
sent  forth  expeditions  in  various  directions,  Ibrmin^f  ma;^- 
iiificent  phms  for  the  cntiit' occM|iation  of  tlie  snrroiindin;^ 
country.  Jle  anticij)al('d  litth'  fni'thcr  resistance  on  the 
{)art  of  lh(r  inliahitants,  hut  while;  h(!  was  indulyin^  these 
liojx'S,  and  pondering  new  stdicmes  of  coiKpn-st,  an  inlhi- 
enct;  was  at  woi'k  to  counteract  his  efforts  and  restore  the 
native  ind(>[)endenc('.  Colocolo,  an  oM  cai^ique  of  Araiico, 
set  himself  in  earnest  to  rouse  u])  the  whole  natitni  to 
resistancv.  lie  visited  pi-ovince  after  j)rovince,  ])ointing 
out  tho  danj^ers  of  the  supine  course  of  Lincoyan,  and 
ur;^in^'  the  appointment  of  some  more  capable  and  ener- 
getic leader. 

A  meeting  of  tlie  Ulmcnes  was  called,  after  tlie  usual 
manner,  in  an  open  j)lain,  and  the  merits  of  various  rival 
candidates  for  the  office  of  Toqui  were  stormily  discussed. 
It  was  [it  last  concluded  to  leave  the  decision  with  Coloctjlo, 
who  lixed  upon  a  chief  not  before  brought  forward;  Cau- 
polican,  Ulmon  of  Pilmayipien. 

The  new  general  commenced  operations  against  the 
Spanish  fort  in  Arauco.  Having  taken  prisoners  a  body 
of  eighty  Indians,  who  had  been  sent  out  by  the  garrison 
to  gather  forage,  he  })ut  an  c([ual  number  of  his  owii  war- 
riors in  charge  of  the  su])plios,  with  their  arms  concealed 
among  the  bundles  of  grass  or  hay.  Th-^ -je  were  admit- 
ted wit'nout  sus{)icion  into  the  fort,  when,  grasping  their 
weap(;ns,  they  attacked  the  Spaniai'ds  with  inconceivable 
fury.  Caupolican  did  not  arrive  quite  soon  enough,  with 
his  army,  to  take  advantage  of  the  confusion  which  ensued. 
As  lie  came  up,  his  brave  company  was  driven  out,  the 
draw-bridge  was  raised,  and  the  garrison  stationed  to  de- 

O  '  CD 

feud  the  walls.  He  therefore  invested  the  j)laco,  and,  cut- 
ting off  all  supplies,  coni])clled  the  Spaniards  to  evacuate 


|.r 


"li 


"1  'fi' 


1 1  n 


t   i 


'■*'  fill !  J 


,  ,'W 


II 


m. 


I 


588 


INDIAN   RACES   OF  AMEllICA. 


it.  Tliis  was  accoin])lislic(l  without  loss,  by  taking  their 
departure  under  cover  of  night:  "at  midnight  they  mount- 
ed their  horses,  and,  suddeidy  opening  the  gate,  rushed  out 
at  full  speed,  and  eseajjed  through  the  midst  of  tlicir  ene- 
mies; the  Araueanians,  wlio  supposed  it  to  be  one  of  their 
customary  sallies,  taking  no  measures  to  obstruct  their 
fhglit." 

Following  uj)  his  advantage  Ciinpolican  reduced  the  fort 
at  'I'ucapel,  and  encam{)ed  at  that  place  to  await  the  a[)- 
proach  of  the  Sj)anish  army.  Valdivia,  according  to  the 
ex[)eetatiou  of  the  Toqui,  i)ron^.ptly  collected  his  forces 
f  )r  a  grand  struggle  with  the  natives.  The  nundoers  of 
the  respective  armies  are  not  certainly  known;  but  it  a[)- 
pears  probable  that  there  were  several  hundred  Sjjaniards. 
accompanied  bv  ten  times  their  zmmber  of  Indian  auxilia- 
ries,  while  the  Araucaniau  forces  are  set  down  at  nine  or 
ten  thousand.  As  he  nearcd  the  enemies'  cam}),  the  Span- 
ish general  sent  forward  ten  mounted  men  iiiider  Diego 
del  Oro,  on  a  scout.  'I'hese  were  surrounded  and  cut  o(t' 
by  the  Indians,  and  their  heads  were  hung  u])on  trees  in 
sight  of  the  advancing  troops. 

It  was  upon  the  od  of  December,  1553,  that  the  grand 
engagement  took  place.  It  was  no  ordinary  Indian  skir- 
mish, in  which,  if  the  natives  could  be  dislodged  from 
covert,  their  discomfiture  was  certain,  but  a  ^  itched  battle, 
depending  no  less  upon  military  skill  in  the  man(x;uvrea 
of  the  different  battalu  :is  than  ujiou  individua.l  courago 
and  determination.  The  Spaniards  were,  it  is  true,  greatly 
outnumbered,  but  they  had,  on  the  other  hand,  the  im- 
mense advantage  of  lii-e-arms  and  other  European  wea[)- 
ons,  with  which  they  had  so  long  been  accustomed  tc 
scatter  the  hordes  of  ruilely-cqui])ped  savages  who  op- 
posed them. 

The  Araueanians  appeared  utterly  reckless  of  life:  line 
after  line  would  be  swept  away  by  cannon  and  muskcti\-, 


hs  their 
Y  mount- 
I'^Iu'd  out 
iicir  ciic- 
of  llm'r 
|u;t  their 

the  fort 
the  ap- 
y  to  the 

ihers  of 
it  it  a[)- 
iiniaixLs. 

auxilia- 

nine  or 
le  Sjiaii- 
T  Diego 

eut  off 
trees  in 

3  grand 
m  skir- 
J  from 

battle, 
jouvrea 
ourago 
^i-eatly 
he  im- 

weap- 
led  tc 
lo  op- 


:  h'nc 
heti'v, 


THE  ARAUCANIAN  HACK. 


',89 


bnt  fresh  bodies  were  ready,  at  the  word  of  commatid,  to 
rush  into  the  daTigerous  breaeh.  Molina  deseribes  the 
result  as  follows:  "Three  times  they  retired  in  gocjd  order 
bej'ond  the  reach  of  the  musketry,  and  as  often,  ivsuming 
Tiew  vigour,  returned  to  the  attaek.  At  length,  alter  the 
loss  of  a  great  number  of  their  men,  they  were  thrown 
into  disorder,  and  began  to  give  way.  Caupolican,  Tuea- 
pel  (one  of  the  most  distinguished  (jf  their  generals),  and 
the  old  intrepid  Colocolo,  who  was  jirtsent  in  the  aetion, 
in  vain  attempted  to  })revent  their  ilight  and  reaniniate 
their  courage.  The  Spaniards  shouted  vietor}'',  and  furi- 
ously pressed  upon  the  fugitives. 

"vVt  this  momentous  crisis,  a  voung  Araucanian,  of  but 
sixteen  years  of  age,  called  Lautaro,  whom  Valdivia,  in 
one  of  his  incursions,  had  taken  prisoner,  bapti/.cd  and 
made  his  page,  quitted  the  victorious  party,  began  loudly 
to  reproach  his  countrymen  with  their  cowardice,  and 
exhorted  them  to  continue  the  contest,  as  the  Spauianis, 
wounded  and  spent  with  fatigue,  were  no  longer  able  to 
resist  them.  At  the  same  time,  gras])ing  a  lance,  he  turned 
against  his  late  master,  crying  out,  'Follow  me,  my  coun- 
trymen! victory  courts  us  with  open  arms.'" 

Such  resolution  and  courage  on  the  jiart  of  a  boy  roused 
the  fugitives  to  new  exertions,  and  turned  the  scale  of 
battle.  The  Spanish  force  was  entirely  destroyed — of  the 
whole  army,  it  is  said  that  only  two  Indians  escaped. 
Yaldivia  was  taken  alive,  and  brought  into  the  ])resence 
of  the  Toqui.  Caupolican  seemed  dispo.scd  to  favor  the 
captive  general,  but  an  old  officer,  standing  by,  "enraged 
to  hear  them  talk  of  sparing  his  life,  dispatched  the  unfor- 
tunate prisoner  with  a  blow  of  his  club." 

A  more  fanciful  tale  of  the  manner  of  A'aldivia's  death 
obtained  some  credence:  Purchas  makes  mention  of  it  as  fol- 
lows in  his  synopsis  of  Chilian  eon(piests  and  colonization : 

"In  six  and  thirtie  degrees  is  that  famous  A^alley  of 


.y-i.j-ir 


i>ii  'I 


!!'  '  'i 


n 


690 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Arauco,  which  defend  their  persons  and  frccdome,  niaugre 
all  the  force  and  furie  of  the  Spaniards.  *  *  They  huue 
destroyed  many  of  the  Spaniards:  they  tooke  the  Citie 
Baldiuia  in  the  yeare  1599,  and  slew  the  Spaniards. 
Twice  before,  if  not  oftner,  they  had  burnt  and  spoiled  it, 
Yea  Bdhliuia  liimselfe,  the  first  conqueror  of  Chilly  (for 
Alniagro  stayed  not)  and  of  whom  that  Citie  receiued  name, 
was  taken  by  these  Indians,  his  horse  being  slaine  vnder 
him.  They  bid  him  feare  nothing,  hee  should  haue  gold 
enough:  and  making  a  great  banquet  for  him,  brought  in 
the  last  scruice,  which  was  a  cup  full  of  molten  gold  which 
they  forced  him  to  drinke,  saying;  Now  (jlut  thy  selfe  tcitli 
gold.  This  Baldiuia  had  entred  Chili  with  foure  hundred 
horse,  and  easily  conquered  that  part  which  had  bcenc 
subject  to  the  Kings  of  Peru,  but  the  other,  which  was 
the  richer  part,  held  out." 

To  proceed  with  the  more  authentic  narrative,  Lautaro 
was  immediately  raised  to  the  highest  subordinate  rank  in 
the  army,  being  made  "lieutenant-general  extraordinary," 
and  the  whole  country  resounded  with  his  praise. 

When  news  of  the  fatal  overthrow  of  Yaldivia  reached 
the  Spanish  settlements,  the  inhabitants  abandoned  Vil- 
larica,  Purcn,  and  other  minor  establishments,  retreating 
for  safety  within  the  walls  of  Valdivia  and  Imperial. 
These  two  places  were  invested  by  Caupolican  in  force, 
while  the  gallant  young  Lautaro  was  entrusted  with  the 
defence  of  the  mountain  pass  by  which  succours  from  the 
North  would  probably  arrive. 

In  accordance  with  directions  left  by  Yaldivia  for  the 
conduct  of  the  government  in  the  event  of  his  death,  tho 
oflice  of  governor  devolved  upon  Francis  Yillagran.  Im- 
mediately upon  assuming  command,  this  officer  made 
arrangements  for  another  invasion  of  Arauco. 

He  found  Lautaro  with  his  division  prepared  to  oppose 
his  entrance  into  the  province.      An  advanced  body  of 


nati 

of  li 

tain 

post 

era 

its 

Its 


1 


THE   AUAUCANIAN    KACE. 


il»l 


ey  liarie 
10  Citio 
iniards. 
3lle(l  it. 
'/'',  (for 
name, 
vnder 
-le  gold 
iJglit  in 
!  which 
l/e  7ciih 
undred 
beene 
ch  was 


natives  was  driven  in  by  the  S})aniard.s,  after  some  lionrs 
of  hard  fighting,  and  the  invaders  pressed  up  the  moun- 
tain |.Kith  to  tlie  sj)ot  where  the  young  comniandor  was 
posted.  "Tliis  mountain,"  says  Molina,  "whieli  on  sev- 
eral occasions  has  proved  fatal  to  the  Sjianiards,  has  on 
its  summit  a  large  plain,  interspersed  with  -hady  ti'ces. 
Its  sides  are  full  of  clefts  and  i)rccipiees,  on  the  ]>ai't 
towards  the  west  the  sea  beats,  with  great  violence,  and 
the  east  is  secured  by  impenetrable  thickets.  A  winding 
bye-path  on  the  north  was  the  only  road  that  led  to  the 
summit  of  the  mountain." 

Yillagran  had  six  j.)ieces  of  artillery,  which  he  succeeded 
in  bringing  to  bear,  with  ellect,  uj)on  the  Indians,  while 
his  musketeers  poured  continual  volleys  among  their  crowd- 
ed ranks.  By  the  orders  of  Lautaro,  a  select  body  of  war- 
riors charged,  the  battery,  and  took  possession  of  every 
cannon.  This  deeided  the  fortune  of  the  day;  the  Span- 
iards and  their  allies  were  driven  down  the  mountain  in 
hopeless  confusion,  pursued  by  the  victorious  natives.  To 
add  to  their  difficulties,  they  found  their  retreat  cut  off  by 
a  barricade  of  logs.  But  a  handful  of  the  number  sur- 
vived to  carry  the  heavy  news  to  Conception. 

The  city  was  immediately  deserted,  as  incapal)le  of 
defence;  the  women,  children,  and  old  men,  were  shi})})ed 
on  board  the  vessels  in  the  harbor,  to  be  carried  to  Val- 
paraiso and  Imperial,  while  Villagran,  with  the  able-bodied 
men,  took  up  his  march  for  Santiago. 

The  Araucanians  plundered  and  destroyed  tlie  aban- 
doned city  without  opposition.  The  hurried  departure  (jf 
the  Spaniards,  and  their  insufficient  means  of  conveyance, 
prevented  the  removal  of  much  accumulated  treasure, 
which  consequently  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

Villagran,  as  soon  as  practicable,  sent  reinforcements  to 
the  besieged  cities  of  Valdivia  and  Imperial,  uj)on  which 
Caupolican  drew  off  Ids  forces,  leaving  the  Spaniards  to 


i:;.: 


:•     il     M  ' 


i.i'M; 


:p'-\\> 


l»  ',4 


M       , 


■"      H\ 


rtl- 


al 


'i.\^  ill 

:    ■'         .1;: 

fffi 


■ii' 


! 

11 


i92 


INDIAX  liACES  OF  AMKKICA. 


lay  waste  the  surrounding  country.  A  worse  enemy  tlian 
the  P]uropcan  invaders,  tit  tliis  time,  desolated  the  Indian 
territori<;s:  that  terrible  disease  the  small-pox  was  coin- 
municatcd  to  the  natives  by  some  infected  Spanish  soldiers, 
and,  as  usual  among  a  people  unacquainted  with  its  pecu- 
liarities, spread  far  and  wide,  producing  a  fearful  mortality. 

In  the  year  1555,  the  Court  of  the  Eoyal  Audience,  at 
Lima,  in  settling  various  disputed  questions  conr*  ,ct('(l 
willi  Spanish  government  in  Chili,  directed  Villagran  to 
rebuild  the  city  of  Conception.  A  colony  was  accordingly 
transported  thither,  and  a  strong  fort  was  erected.  ^I'liis 
spot,  it  will  be  remcmberc  1,  was  to  be  northward  of  tlie 
Bio-bio,  and  without  the  Araucanian  territory;  but,  at  the 
recjuest  of  the  native  iiduibitants,  an  army  of  about  two 
thousand  men,  under  Laiitaro,  was  sent  to  annihilate  the 
growing  settlement. 

The  young  chieftain  was  a  second  time  completely  suc- 
cessful. The  Spaniards  were  slain,  or  driven  to  seek  safety 
in  their  vessels,  or  by  flight  through  the  wilderness,  and 
the  buildings  were  again  plundered  and  razed. 

Flushed  with  success,  Lautaro  now  determined,  with 
only  six  hundred  warriors,  to  march  a  distance  of  some 
three  hundred  miles,  and  attack  the  town  of  Santiago. 
At  the  same  time,  Caupolican  again  laid  siege  to  Valdivia 
and  Imperial.  Lautaro  pursued  his  march  peaceably 
until  he  reached  Promaucia,  where  he  revenged  his  coun- 
try upon  the  treacherous  allies  of  the  Spaniards  by  ravag- 
ing and  laying  waste  the  district.  This  course  of  pi'o- 
cceding  has  been  pronounced  grossly  impolitic,  as  by 
conciliation  and  kindness  he  might  have  secured  friends 
where  he  now  left  behind  him  implacable  enemies. 

Instead  of  making  an  instantaneous  attack  upon  the 
city,  Lautaro  deemed  it  more  prudent  to  erect  a  fort  to 
which  he  might  retreat,  and  where  he  might,  at  his  leisure, 
reconnoitre  the  oiicniy's  strongholds,  and  choose  his  own 


;.s 


ij  tlian 

IS  coni- 
oldiers, 
pee  11- 
)rt:ility. 

iiee,  at 
I.  ,et('<l 
I'aii  to 
nliiiul  y 
.  Tlii's 
of  the 
,  at  tlio 
>ut  two 
ate  tlh^ 


THE  AIIAUCANIAN   RACE. 


rm 


time  for  assault  or  surprise.  lie  tlicrcforc  posted  hnrisolf 
on  the  banks  of  the  Charo.  Repeated  atteni})ts  were  made 
by  the  Spaniards  to  dislodt.''e  him,  but  again  and  again 
they  were  repu.lsed  w  itli  lieavy  loss.  ''J'he  conduet  of 
these  sorties  were  intrusted  to  Pedro  Villagran,  son  of 
the  governor,  the  old  chief  himself  being  at  the  time  dis- 
abled by  sickness. 

Upon  his  recovery,  the  veteran  took  with  him  an  army 
of  about  two  hundred  Spaniards,  with  a  thousand  Indians, 
and  marched,  with  great  scercsy  and  caution  for  Lautaro's 
camp.  lie  succeeded  in  surprising  the  enemy,  and  gainiMl 
a  complete  victory.  ^I'he  attack  was  made  just  at  the 
dawn  of  day;  when  the  Indians  were  totally  unprepanMl: 
they  fought  with  their  usual  desperation,  and,  after  all 
h()j)e  of  resistanc3  was  at  an  end,  sternly  refused  to  sur- 
render. "  In  vain,"  says  Molina,  "the  Spanish  commar.der 
repeatedly  offered  them  quarter.  *  *  The  Araucanians 
perished  to  the  last  man,  and  fought  with  such  obstinacy 
that  they  sought  for  death  by  throwing  themselves  on  the 
lances  of  their  enemies." 

Lautaro  was  slain  by  a  dart  in  the  very  first  of  the  mcl6e. 
This  was  in  1556,  and  the  brave  and  celebrated  chief  was 
consequently  but  nineteen  years  of  age.  His  death  was 
universally  lamented;  even  the  Spaniards,  while  exult- 
ing in  the  prospect  of  future  safety,  opened  to  them  by  his 
death,  both  felt  and  expressed  the  most  enthusiastic  admi- 
ration for  his  noble  character  and  distinguished  talents. 
Caupolican,  hearing  of  the  melancholy  issue  of  Lautaro's 
cxj)edition,  raised  the  siege  of  Imperial,  and  re})i.,ired  to 
the  northern  frontiers. 
'6H 


I  r 


t  f|      .: 


f      . 


i  !;    ' 


1    I 

II 

11 

i 

i'i 

(   ) 

h 

~^ 


n> 


:  ■  i 

t  h     ft 


1 


f.   ft. 


.,i^i 


(\ 


594  INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  lY. 

DON  fiARCIA   DE    MENDOZA  ;    HIS    ESTABLISHMENT  AT  QUIRIQUINA- - 

FORT  ON  MOUNT  I'INTO  ATTACKED  UY  CAtlPOMCAN — DON  GARCIa's 

INVASION  OF  AKAUCO  ;    HIS  CRUELTIES — EXPEDITION  TO  CHILOE 

ARTFUL    MANAGEMENT   OF  THE    CUNCHES — SEIZURE    AND 

CRUEL    HEATH   OF    CAUI'OLICAN — SURSEQUENT   SUCCESSES 
OF  THE  SPANIARDS — RETREAT  OF  THE  NATIVES  TO  THE 

MARSHES    OF    LUMACO INDIAN  VICTORY  AT    MOUNT 

MARIGUENU — GENERAL    SUMMARY    OF    SUCCEED- 
ING  HOSTILITIES, 

In  the  month  of  April,  1557,  Don  Garcia  de  ^fendoza, 
upon  whom  liad  been  conferred  the  office  of  Spanish 
viceroy  at  Chili,  arrived  at  the  harbor  of  Conception,  with 
a  large  force  of  infantry  and  abundant  muniments  of  war. 
lie  first  established  himself  upon  the  island  of  Quiriquina, 
and  sent  messages  to  the  Araucanian  authorities  express- 
ing a  desire  for  tlie  establishment  of  a  permanent  peace. 
Caupolican,  wi^h  the  concurrence  of  his  council,  sent  one 
Millalauco  to  confer  with  the  Spanish  commandant,  espe- 
cially charging  him  to  note  with  great  accuracy  the  num- 
bers and  resources  of  the  troops.  Nothing  but  general 
expressions  of  amity  and  desire  for  tranquillity  resulted 
from  the  conference,  and  Millalauco  returned  with  full 
reports  to  Caupolican.  The  Toqui  was  immediately  upon 
the  alert,  and  made  every  preparation  for  obtaining  instant 
informatioii  of  the  enemy's  movements,  and  for  opposing 
any  establishment  upon  the  main  land. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Don  Garcia  landed  a  detach- 
ment in  the  night,  and  secured  the  position  of  Mount 
Pinto,  overlooking  th.e  plain  and  harbor.  Here  a  fort  was 
constructed,  surrounded 


^y 


by 


lory.     Only  four  days  from  the  time  of  landing,  the  Arau 
canian  chief,  with  a  large  army,  attacked  the  fort. 


— J^ 

■^         Vf'l 

Pi 

UINA — 

if,'  ; 

■&■'■■' 

kcia's 

b'  ■, 

II.OE 

1    ; 

NI) 

fc 

KS 

K'f 

THE  ARAUGANIAN  RACE. 


i95 


Filling  the  ditch  with  logs  and  fascines,  the  assailants, 
in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire,  made  desperate  efforts  to 
scale  the  walls,  ^fany  succeeded,  and  threw  themselves 
into  the  inclosure,  will'iig  to  meet  certain  destruction  that 
they  might  have  a  brief  opportunity  for  wreaking  their 
long-cherished  vengeance  ujion  the  Spaniards.  Prodigies 
are  related  of  the  personal  exploits  of  Tucapel,  who  en- 
couraged this  audacity  by  his  own  example,  but  who, 
urdike  his  companions,  succeeded  in  forcing  his  way  back. 
After  killing,  as  is  said,  "four  of  his  enemies  with  his 
formidable  mace,  he  escaped  by  leaping  over  a  precipice, 
amidst  a  shower  of  balls." 

Kcinforcements  were  sent  over  from  the  island,  and 
Caupolican  was  obliged  to  draw  oft'  his  forces,  leaving  his 
purpose  unaccomplished.  The  arrival,  shortly  after,  of  a 
great  force  of  Spanish  cavalry  and  Indian  auxiliaries,  by 
sea,  rendered  a  repetition  of  the  attempt  hopeless. 

Thus  strengthened,  Don  Garcia  soon  commenced  offen- 
sive operations.  He  crossed  the  Bio-bio  unopposed,  and 
engaged  the  Araucanian  arm}',  a  short  distance  beyond. 
The  natives,  notwithstanding  every  exertion,  and  the  dis- 
play of  a  rash  valor  never  surpassed,  were  driven  off  with 
terrible  loss. 

Cruelty  and  barbarity  unlike  any  thing  before  known 
in  Chili,  now  marked  the  success  of  the  conqueror.  He 
cut  off  the  hands  of  a  prisoner  named  Galverino,  who  had 
been  a  noted  warrior,  and  sent  him  to  his  friends  as  a 
warning  of  what  was  in  store  for  them:  other  captives  he 
subjected  to  cruel  tortures  in  order  to  extort  information 
as  to  their  general's  plans  and  places  of  retreat,  but  theii- 
fortitude  was  proof  against  all  the  suffering  he  could  inflict, 

Caupolican  soon  rallied  his  forces  for  another  battle, 
which  was  more  obstinately  contested  even  than  the  first; 
but  the  result  was  the  same — the  superiority  in  weapons, 
and  the  efiiciency  of  the  cavalry  securing  success  to  the 


k 


.J 


i 


¥' 


'1 


t 


1ii!l'"f! 


Ill 


ll, 


li!ili!i ; 


i  till 

:j«i  :'t;|| 


II   ■ 


•I 


li 


tl 


m 

I: 


,  !'!i 


iii. 


III 


f:p 


596 


INDIAN   RACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


Spaniards.  The  mutilated  Galvcrino,  again  taken  prisoner, 
was  hanj^cd,  with  twelve  of  the  native  I'hnencs. 

Marching  into  the  distrietof  Tucapel,  Don  Garcia  found- 
ed the  city  of  (Janete  ujion  the  s[)ot  of  ^'aldivia's  former 
discomfiture.  A  strong  fort  was  there  built  and  gan'isoned, 
and  the  command  intrusted  to  (me  Alonzo  Heynoso,  after 
which  the  conqueror  returned  in  triumph  to  Imperial. 
From  this  town  he  sent  large  numbers  of  Spaniards  to  assist 
in  the  defence  and  establishment  of  the  new  city.  On  the 
route,  these  settlers  were  furiously  attacked  by  the  natives, 
but  after  suffering  some  loss  in  men  and  stores,  they  ef- 
fected an  entrance  into  the  fortification.  Caupolican  then 
sot  himself  systematically  to  reduce  the  j)lace.  In  the 
attempt  to  secure  an  advantage  by  the  introduction  of  a 
spy  within  the  walls,  he  was  himself  com])letely  over- 
reached by  the  cunning  of  one  of  the  Indian  allies  of  the 
Spaniards.  This  man,  discovering  the  errand  of  the  s])y, 
secured  his  confidence  by  })retending  hatred  against  the 
invaders,  and  by  promising  his  aid  in  admitting  the  be- 
siegers within  the  walls.  Caupolican  was  regularly  en- 
trapped: a  gate  was  left  open  to  give  opportunity  for  an 
entrance  into  the  fort,  but  when  such  a  number  had  en- 
tered as  could  safely  be  mastered,  the  passage  was  closed, 
and  by  a  sudden  and  unexpected  attack,  those  within  the 
walls  were  cut  to  pieces,  and  those  without  completely 
routed.  Caupolican  escaped  to  the  mountains,  but  three 
of  his  officers  were  taken  prisoners,  and  blown  from  the 
muzzles  of  cannon. 

The  years  1558  and  1559  were  memorable  among  the 
Spanish  settlers  of  Chili,  for  the  expedition  of  Don  Garcia 
to  the  archipelago  of  Chiloe.  By  an  artful  policy,  adopt- 
ed in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  an  Araucanian,  the 
Cunches  averted  the  usual  terrors  of  European  invasion. 
They  pretended  extreme  poverty,  sending  to  the  general  a 
present  of  "roasted  lizards  and  wild  fruits,"  and  carefully 


< 


'if 


IM.     :' 


THE  AUAUCANIAN  RACE. 


597 


coTiccaling  every  sign  of  wealth,  iiiirticuliirly  in  the  precious 
metals.  A  guide  furnished  by  them  to  the  Spaniurds  was 
instructed  to  lead  the  army  s<nithward  by  the  most  deso-. 
late  and  dangerous  routes,  tiie  more  effectually  to  discour- 
age any  plans  of  settlement  and  colonization. 

Arriving,  at  last,  after  unheard-of  oil  and  privation,  at 
the  beautiful  archijielago,  the  Spaniards  were  kindly  and 
generously  entertained  by  the  natives.  On  his  return, 
through  the  level  country  of  the  JJuilliches,  Don  Garciu 
founded  the  city  of  Oisino. 

It  was  during  this  absence  of  the  viceroy  that  the  brave 
Caupolican  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Alonzo 
l{eyn(;so  extorted,  by  torture  of  a  prisoner,  the  disclosure 
(jf  his  place  of  retreat,  and  sent  a  corps  of  mounted  men  to 
surprise  him.  By  order  of  the  cruel  conunandant,  this 
brave  and  venerated  ruler  was  impaled,  and  in  that  posi- 
tion dispatched  with  arrows. 

The  oflice  of  Toqui  was  conferred  upon  a  son  of  the 
old  chief,  Cau})olican  the  younger,  and  the  redoubted 
Tucapel  was  made  second  in  command.  An  army  of 
Araucanians,  led  by  the  new  commander,  was  immediately 
upon  the  mai'ch  for  the  city  of  Conception.  Alonzo  Key- 
noso  followed,  with  five  hundred  men,  to  attack  this  body 
in  the  rear;  but  was  signally  defeated  in  an  engagement 
north  of  the  river  Bio-bio,  which  he  hardly  succeeded  in 
recrossing  with  a  remnant  of  his  followers.  Instead  of 
following  out  his  original  design  against  Conception,  young 
Caupolican  transferred  his  forces  to  Imperial,  where  Don 
Garcia  had  fortified  himself  He  was  unable  to  take  the 
city,  although  he  besieged  it  closely  for  a  long  time,  mak- 
ing many  furious  and  desperate  attacks.  The  Spaniards 
were  strengthened  by  constant  arrivals  of  military  adven- 
turers from  Spain  and  Peru,  and  as  their  defences  were 
good,  their  loss  in  these  engagements  was  small,  as  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  Indian  besiegers.     An  attempt  to 


I  si 


('■ 


;ir 


'■;-!!i, 


!  ; 


A .-  - 


m 


(1 4 ' 


p 


t 


698 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF  AMKKICA. 


rouse  a  relx'llioii  uinoii;^  the  Indian  iillics  ;it  tlu;  J^j';uii.sh 
cuinj),  \v!is  tlis(;(n'ori'(l,  ;iinl  ;ill  concci'iicil  wvvr  put  to  doiilh. 
Two  of  tin'  (Miiissiirics  of  tlio  Toijui  wci'o  '' iiupalt'd  in  the 
si.irlit  of  tin'  Aniiii'aMJaii  :inuy,  It)  whom  they  ruconuncndeil 
Avith  their  last  breath  to  die  in  (h'lenci;  of  the  lihcrties  of 
their  eountiy.  One  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  auxiliaries 
wore  also  hung  on  the  i'ain])ai'ts,  exhorting  the  others  to 
favor  thi>  enterprise;  of  their  eountryinen." 

Caujxjlieau  withdrew  from  the  eity,  and  established 
liinist'lf  at  a  phiec  ealled  Quij)eo,  between  Coneeptiou  and 
the  fortress  of  Canete,  the  natui'e  of  whieh  was  such  that 
it  eould  easily  be  defended.  Uere  he  stoutly  resisted  all 
ellbrts  to  dislodge  him  for  a  long  time;  but  was  linally 
■worsted  in  an  ineautious  sally.  His  army  was  mostly 
destroyed;  Tueapel,  Coloeolo,  Lineoyan,  and  others  of  his 
bravest  olheers,  had  fallen;  and,  seeing  eseaj)e  imjjossible, 
the  young  ehief  j)ut  an  end  to  his  own  life. 

Every  thing  now  seemed  to  favor  the  Sj)aniards:  they 
little  thought  that  after  sueh  a  reverse,  and  the  ex})erienee 
of  the  misery  and  horrors  of  a  long  and  bloody  war,  the 
natives  would  again  make  head  against  them.  The  intei-- 
val  of  pcaee  was  oceupied  in  restoring  the  old  fortiiieations 
and  settlements,  and  in  the  establishment  of  new  po.sts. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  the  eity  of  Mendoza,  east  of  the 
Andes,  was  founded. 

Nearly  all  the  xVraueanian  ofBeers,  and  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  young  men  of  the  tribe,  had  perished  in  the 
last  disastrous  eampaigns,  but  the  indomitable  spirit  of  the 
nation  survived.  A  brave  ehief,  named  Antiguenu,  was 
ehosen  Toqui,  and  the  shattered  forees  of  the  nation  were 
assembled  in  the  gloomy  and  almost  impenetrable  marshes 
of  Lumaco.  Here  Antiguenu  "caused  higli  scaffoldings 
to  be  erected  to  secure  his  men  from  the  extreme  moisture," 
and  devoted  himself  to  training  and  instructing  such  new 
recruits  as  could  be  collected. 


In. 


Si 


ill  the 
•tided 

i''.S  of 

iarlc.s 
It'f.S   to 


THK  AUAUCANIAX    HACK. 


n«n 


'J'J 


"Don  Criircia  luul,  in  tlic  moan  titnc,  luMni  snjiorspdcd  in 
liis  ollioo  of  Spiuiisli  viceroy,  by  tlu;  lonncr  iiKiundx.Mit, 
Francis  Villa.^ian ;  who,  liciirinj^'  of  llu;  late  defeat,  of  the 
natives,  supposecl  that  lie  now  (jccuj)icd  an  easy  ami  secure 
])osition.  lie  was'undeceivcd  by  the  intelligence  that  the 
new  Toqni  was  beginning  to  give  his  anny  some  })ractical 
lessons  in  the  art  of  war  by  various  predatory  visits  to  the 
Spanish  settlements. 

The  first  serious  engagement,  in  this  campaign,  took 
])lace  at  the  summit  of  Mount  Mariguenu,  the  scene  of 
ibrnier  disaster  to  the  Spaniards.  Antiguenu,  familiar 
with  the  advantages  of  the  locality,  was  posteil  at  this 
s))ot,  and  \'illagran  sent  one  of  his  sons,  with  the  most 
ellicient  force  at  his  disposal,  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their 
(piartei'S.  The  residt  of  the  attempt  was  as  fatal  as  upon 
former  occasions:  the  leader  of  the  assailants  was  slain, 
and  nearly  the  entire  Spanish  army  destroyed.  The  To 
qui  followed  up  his  advantage  by  the  seizure  and  destruc- 
tion of  the  fortress  at  Canete. 

About  this  time  Pedro  Villagran,  by  the  death  of  Francis, 
his  father,  succeeded  to  the  oflice  of  governor.  Antiguenu 
had  now  at  his  dis|)osal  an  army  of  not  far  from  four  thou- 
sand men,  and  felt  sufficiently  strong  to  divide  his  forces, 
and  make  a  simultaneous  attack  upon  the  city  of  Concep- 
tion and  the  fortress  at  Arauco, 

The  city  resisted  all  the  attempts  of  the  natives,  although 
close  siege  was  laid  to  it  for  two  months;  but  the  detach- 
'^mcnt  led  into  Arauco  by  Antiguenu  in  person  was  more 
successful.  The  commandant,  Lorenzo  Bernal,  defended 
his  post  with  great  bravery,  holding  out  against  all  the  as- 
saults of  the  enemy  until  reduced  by  famine  to  evacuate  the 
fort.  The  Spaniards  were  not  disturbed  in  their  retreat,  the 
business  of  destroying  the  buildings  and  fortifications,  so 
long  a  harbor  for  the  enemy  in  the  heart  of  their  own 
country,  fully  occupying  the  attention  of  the  Araucanians. 


1, 
'II 


Mt 


I' 


'iii;ll  " 

I'! 


•I     '1(1 


i*.;|! 


'ii-r*' 


»  1 


GOO 


INLiIAN  UACES  UF  AMKIUCA. 


Several  interesting  incidents  arc  reec^rded  eonnoctcd  witli 
lliis  siege:  upon  cnie  ueeasicjn,  Antiguenii  eliallenged  tlio 
Sj)aiiisli  eonuuandaiit  to  a  jdivate  j)i!rs(;nal  encounter,  and 
tlic  duel  was  accordingly  lought  in  sight  ol'  both  armies. 
"The  battle  between  these  twuehampioiis,"  says  the  histori- 
an, "wsis  eontinued  (or  two  hours  without  either  obtaining 
any  advantage,  or  injuring  the  other,  till  they  were  at 
length  sej)arated  by  their  men."  Such  trials  of  strength 
and  skill  between  renowneil  warriors  of  either  ])arty  weio 
not  unccjniinon  during  the  protraeted  wars  of  Chili. 

Not  long  after  the  reduction  of  Canete  and  the  iort  iit 
Araueo,  a  general  engagement  took  })lace  between  the  In- 
dians and  Spaniards  at  the  junction  of  the  Vergijsa  and 
liio-bio,  in  which  the  former  were  totally  routed,  .\ntl- 
guenu  with  many  of  his  followei's  fell,  or  was  forced,  from 
a  sleep  bank  into  t.  o  stream,  and  there  perished.  A  t''r- 
rible  havoc  was  conunited  among  the  diseomlitted  army, 
not,  however,  without  great  loss  to  the  victors,  and  the 
Araucanian  power  seemed,  a  second  time,  to  be  eil'ectually 
crushed.     'JHiis  was  in  the  year  15()4. 

The  sagacious  and  prudent  I'aillataru,  a  relative  of  ilu; 
lamented  Lautaro,  was  the  next  'iVxpii,  and,  like  his  })re- 
deccssor,  he  set  himself,  at  first,  to  recruit  his  forces  and 
re[)air  the  disasters  of  war.  I'or  years  he  hazarded  no 
o})en  battle  with  the  whites,  but  inured  his  warriors  to  ser- 
vice by  Hying  incursions. 

In  lo()5  a  new  Spanish  viceroy,  Hodrigo  de  Quiroga, 
restored  the  posts  at  Canete  and  Araueo,  and  built  a  new 
fort  at  C^uipeo.  With  little  opposition,  he  laid  waste  tliose 
portions  of  the  Araucanian  territory  that  were  within  his 
reach,  and  dis})atched  a  body  of  troops  to  the  southwaril, 
to  bring  into  subjection  the  islands  of  the  Chiloan  archi- 
pelago. The  mild  and  gentle  inhabitants  of  that  grou})e 
submitted  without  an  clTort  to  the  dietati(Mi  of  the  S])an- 
iards,  oll'ering  no  resistance  to  the  burdens  of  personuJ 


I      i 


THE  AUAUCANIAN    UACE. 


GUI 


servlco,  &o.,  Imposod  upon  tlifin  hy  llu'ir  new  masters.  In 
ufter-tjiiies  they  proved  ecpuilly  traetiiblc  iti  lulopting  tlio 
relij^'ioii  of  tlieir  eoiupierors. 

I'ur  tliirty  years  from  tlio  installation  of  Paillataru, 
bloody  and  desolatiii,^,^  wars  were,  at  intervals,  wa;:i'd  lie- 
twecMi  the  Spaniards  and  Araueanians.  'i'lu;  former,  from 
the  steady  inerease  of  theii-  mnnbei's,  acquired  a  stronger 
Ibothold  in  the  country,  and  the  result  of  hostilities  was 
generally  in  their  favc^r.  <  )('('asionally  some  terrible  I'l.-verse 
W(juld  serve;  to  remind  tiiciu  that  the  enemy  was  not  yi't 
compiere'd,  but  that  tin;  old  spirit  still  burned  with  umh- 
minished  energy.  'J'he  Araueanians  aecpiired  the  use  of 
hoi'ses,  thei'eby  gainin,:^-  great  faeililii's  for  Hying  ineni'sions. 
'^^I'o  a  eertain  extent  they  had,  moreover,  leai'ueil  to  avail 
themselves  of  sueh  lire-arms  as  W(.'re  secured  in  hattle. 

raillataru  defeated  tiie  Spaniards  yet  again  upon  Mount 
^^ariguenu,  and,  as  well  as  his  suei*essor,  the  mustee  or 
halfd)reed  l^iynenancu,  ]>i'oved  a  thorn  in  the  sides  of  the 
colonists,  'riie  I'Iman  of  Mariguenu,  Cayanearu,  was  mado 
'IVxpu  in  loSo,  aftei'  tlu."  sei/,ui'e  and  execution  of  Pa_ynv; 
iiaiieu.  '^J'his  ruler,  disaj)poiMled  in  vari(^us  bold  bi;t 
unsuccessful  campaigns,  resigned  olliee  in  favoi"  cjf  his  son 
Nangoniel,  who  was  s(;on  afb-r  slain  in  battle.  A  noted 
warrior,  named  Cadeguala,  succeeded  him. 

'VUo  new  4  oqui,  after  vari(jus  other  warlike  o})erutions, 
laid  siege  to  the  Spanish  furt  at  Pui'en.  Becoming  weaiy 
of  delay,  his  chivalrous  s])irit  led  liim  to  challenge  the 
commandant,  Garcia  liamon,  to  single  combat,  thereby  to 
decide  the  fate  of  the  fortress.  The  two  leaders  accord- 
ingly fought  on  horseback,  with  lances,  and  Cadeguala  fell 
transfixed  by  his  adversary's  weapon  at  the  first  tilt. 

Guanoalca,  the  next  in  authority,  continued  to  wage 
war  with  the  Spaniarrls,  and  gained  many  advantages. 
He  reduced  and  took  possession  of  the  fortresses  atJ^uren, 
Trinidad,  and  Spirito  Santo.     During  this  administration. 


.M 


i'^  t. 


>  i 


\     5 


i!  ' 


602 


iMiiAN  iiAci:;.s  OF  A\:i:i;UA. 


flourislied  a  celebnitcd  female  warrior,  iiaiiicd  Jancquuo. 
who  ill  luUO,  with  a  horde  of  the  wild  and  roving  Puelchea 
of  tlie  east(>rii  disti'iets,  liarassed  the  Spanish  settlements. 

Tlie  young  ehief  Quintuguenu,  suecoeded  Guanoalca. 
upon  the  death  of  tliat  Toqui  in  lOUl,  and  a^thougli  a 
l)rave  and  no])le  warrior,  was  doomed  to  defeat  and  death 
at  the  spot  most  famous  for  his  countrymen's  victories. 
He  fell  on  the  heiglits  of  Mai'iguenu,  where  his  army  was 
destroyed  or  dispersed.  One  J'aillaeco  was  elected  in  his 
[)lace,  but  with  reduced  forces  he  could  efleet  little  against 
the  Spaniards,  encouraged  as  they  were  by  recent  success. 
'J'he  old  forts  and  posts  destroyed  under  the  sway  of  pre- 
ceding rulers  were  rebuilt  and  fortified  in  the  years  1591 
and  1592. 


CHAPTER   V. 

VICKROYALTY   OF   WARTIN    LOYOLA— PAILLAMACHU— RENEWAL    OF 
THE    WAR — LOYOLA  SLAIN — GENERAL    INSURRECTION  OF  THE 

NATIVES THE  SPANIARDS    DRIVEN    FROJI    THE    COUNTRY 

SOUTH    OF   THE    BIO-BIO BLOODY  CAMPAIGNS    UNDER 

SEVERAL  SUCCESSIVE  TOQUIS PEACE  OF  1G40 TEN 

years' WAR SUBSEQUENT  TREATIES  AND  HOSTILI- 

TIES— PRESENT  POSITION  OF  THE  ARAUCANIANS. 

In  1593  Don  Martin  Loyola,  nephew  of  Ignatius,  tlie 
originator  of  the  order  of  Jesuits,  arrived  at  Chili,  invested 
with  the  office  of  governor  under  the  Spanisli  monarchy. 
During  the  period  of  his  authority  arose  the  renowned 
Paillamachu,  next  in  regular  succession  to  Paillaeco.  He 
was  an  old  man,  but  endowed  with  singular  energy  and 
activity.  For  two  years  he  kept  aloof,  recruiting  and  dis.- 
ciplining  his  forces  at  the  old  retreat  among  theLumaean 


I: 


THE  ARAUCANIAX  HACK. 


ao3 


morasses,  while  the  Spaniards  bad  opportunity,  unmolest- 
ed, to  restore  their  ruined  cities,  to  work  the  rich  mines 
uf  til'"  uiouutains,  and  to  strengthen  their  positions  as  they 
would,  'i'iie  To(pii,  l)y  an  ambassador,  gave  Loyola  dis- 
tinctly to  understand  that  he  and  his  folh^wers  were,  as 
lirndy  as  their  forefathers,  determined  never  to  be  brought 
into  subjection. 

I'aillamachu's  first  attem))t  against  his  enemies  was  by 
siMiding  a  detachment  (in  ioDo)  to  destroy  a  fortilication 
eiv.'eted  by  Loyola  at  the  southward  of  the  Bio-bio.  J^'rom 
this  time  he  continued  to  attack  and  })lunder  the  Spanish 
settlements  wherever  opportunity  offered,  avoiding  general 
engagements,  and  retreating  with  his  booty  to  his  inacces- 
sible fastnesses.  On  the  night  of  November  22d,  1598, 
he  succeeded  in  surprising  and  slaying  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernor, at  his  cncam{)ment  (with  a  slender  retinue)  in  the 
vale  of  Caralva.  "It  would  seem,"  (by  Molina's  account) 
"  that  the  Araueanian  general  had  formed  confident  hopes 
of  the  success  of  this  bold  enterprise,  since,  in  consequence 
of  his  previous  instructions,  in  less  than  fortj'-eight  hours 
after  this  event,  not  only  the  Araueanian  provinces,  but 
those  of  the  Cunches  and  nuilliches,  were  in  arms,  and 
the  whole  of  the  country  to  the  archipelago  of  Chiloe." 

The  native  armies  met  with  unprecedented  success* 
town  after  town  fell  before  them,  reduced  by  siege  or  car- 
ried by  storm.  Conception,  Chilian,  Cancte,  the  Araucan 
fort,  Valdivia,  and  other  settlements,  were  destroyed,  and 
the  inhabitants  slain,  driven  olF,  or  carried  away  captives. 
Villarica,  Osorno,  and  Imperial  were  conquered,  in  1G02, 
after  protracted  siege,  in  which  the  miserable  citizens  suf- 
fered every  extremity  from  famine  and  terror.  "Thus,  in 
a  period  of  little  more  than  three  years,  were  destroyed  all 
the  settlements  which  Valdivia  and  his  successors  had 
established  and  preserved,  at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood, 
in   the  extensive  country  between  the  Bio-bio  and  the 


¥ 


iw'-nt  ' 


:;,!iii:. 


li 


I '1.1  1' 


I 


■;; 


604 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


arr.liipclago  of  Cliiloc,  none  of  which  have  hcon  since 
rebuilt,  as  what  is  at  present  called  Yuldivia  is  no  more 
dian  a  fort  oi-  ,^arrison." — {.^folina^s  Civil  Tlidonjof  Chili; 
written  alxMit  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century.) 

Great  numbers  of  Spanish  prisoners  were  carried  hotne 
by  the  Indians,  and  ex])erienced  great  diversity  of  treat- 
ment. Many  intermarried  with  the  natives,  giving  origin 
to  a  race  of  half-breeds,  who  proved  as  inimical  towards 
the  Spaniards  as  their  dur.ky  ancestors. 

The  brave  and  sagacious  I'aillamachu  died  in  lOOo. 
Picpeated,  but  futile  attempts  were  made  by  the  Spaniards 
for  several  years  ensuing,  to  recover  their  lost  territory 
.south  of  the  Bio-bio.  The  Indians,  fortunate  "n  hnviiig 
brave  and  sagacious  rulers,  and  with  all  their  ancient 
pride  and  patriotic  enthusiasm  fully  aroused,  successfully 
resisted  every  invasion.  About  the  year  1612,  a  move- 
ment was  made  by  a  Jesuit,  named  Louis  Yaldivia,  to  put 
an  end  to  this  hopeless  warfare,  that  an  opening  might  bo 
nuide  for  the  spread  of  the  Christian  religion  among  tlio 
independent  tribes.  The  Spanish  monarch,  l^hilip  the 
Third,  highly  approved  of  the  plan,  and  proposals  were 
forwarded  to  the  Toqui  and  his  council,  by  means  of  cer- 
tain liberated  prisoners. 

While  the  treaty  of  peace  was  under  negotiation,  and 
flattering  prospects  of  quiet  appeared  to  the  settlers,  an 
event  occurred  which  put  a  speedy  end  to  all  peaceful 
intercourse.  Ancanamon,  the  Toqui,  had  a  S])anish  wo- 
man as  one  of  his  wives,  who  made  her  escape  from  his 
power,  and  sought  protection  from  the  Spanish  viceroy. 
Two  other  wives  of  the  Toqui,  and  two  of  his  daughters, 
won  over  by  her  persuasions  to  embrace  her  religion, 
accompanied  her  in  her  flight. 

The  Spaniards  refused  to  deliver  up  these  refugees,  with 
the  exception  of  one  who  had  not  professed  Christianity. 
and  Ancanamon,  enraged  at  the  supposed  injur}-,  slew  a 


SI  II  CO 

more 
Ghai: 


THE  AUAUCANIAN  RACE. 


005 


minibiT  of  missionaries  wlio  had  been  conducted  into  his 
doininion.s,  and  with  renewed  energy  continued  the  pros- 
ecution of  the  war. 

About  the  year  1618,  a  most  fierce  and  dauL'^erous 
enemy  of  the  Spaniards  had  tlie  dictatorship  of  the  Arau- 
e;inian  tribes.  This  was  tlie  celebrated  Toqui  Lientur. 
A  chain  of  mihtary  posts  and  strong  fortifications  had 
been  erected  by  the  S})anish  authorities  upon  the  Bio-l)io, 
to  prevent  Indian  incursions,  Ijut  tliey  avaik-d  notliing 
against  the  7'a|)id  and  energetic  movemerits  of  tlic  native 
commander.  Until  his  resignation,  in  1625,  he  not  only 
])reserved  his  own  country  from  Spanish  occu])ation,  but 
made  continual  inroads  into  the  enemy's  territory,  plun- 
dering their  villages  and  destroying  the  forces  brought  to 
oppose  him.  In  his  very  first  expedition,  he  is  said  to  hav(! 
sci/od  and  carried  off  no  less  than  four  hundred  hors(\s. 

llis  successor,  the  young  warrior  Putapichion,  who  li;id 
been  formerly  a  slave  among  the  whites,  proved  a  no  h's^ 
formidable  adversary.  He  continued  in  authority  uniil 
plain  in  battle  about  eigh.t  years  from  the  time  of  his  acces- 
sion; a  period  marked  by  many  extensive  and  bloody 
campajgns,  inwdiich  the  Spaniards,  although  more  success- 
ful than  during  former  administrations,  could  obtain  no 
permanent  footing  upon  Araucanian  soil.  At  the  last 
grand  engagement,  which,  in  consequence  of  his  death, 
resulted  favorably  for  the  Spaniards,  the  manner  in  which 
this  chief  marshaled  and  brought  his  forces  to  action  ex- 
cited the  admiration  of  his  enemies. 

Tlie  obstinacy  with  which  these  wars  were  carried  or, 
during  a  period  of  little  less  than  a  century,  until  the  peac(> 
concluded  in  1640,  is  almost  without  parallel.  The  history 
of  the  times  does  not  record  a  series  of  petty  skirmishes, 
but  a  succession  of  desperate  campaigns,  in  which  the  known 
valor  and  obstinacy  of  the  Spanhrd  were  no  less  conspicu- 
ous than  the  utter  carelessness  of  life  and  enthusiastic  self* 


iff 


lili::!    ! 


l-r.iiliii  -I*' 


1:  :') 


606 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


devotion  of  the  Indian.  The  success  of  either  party  would, 
from  time  to  time,  seem  to  threaten  the  utter  extermination 
of  their  rivals,  but  defeat  only  compelled  a  retreat,  on  the 
one  hand  within  the  fortified  towns,  and  on  the  other  into 
tin  imj)enetrable  wilderness,  until  new  forces  could  be 
raised  and  new  plans  of  assault  concocted. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  the  Marquis  of  Baydes,  Fran- 
cisco Zuniga,  came  out  to  Chili  as  governor,  and  exerted 
himself  successfully  to  obtain  an  interview  with  the  '1'o(|lu 
Lincojiichion,  and  to  cone""  ide  terms  for  a  lasting  peace. 

An  immense  concourse  of  both  races  attended  at  the 
time  and  place  appointed  for  the  solemn  ratification  of  the 
treaty,  and  days  were  passed  in  feats  and  congratulatoiy 
ceremonials.  Prisoners  were  exchanged,  trade  was  estab- 
lished, and  free  scope  was  given  to  the  exertions  of  the 
devout  ecclesiastics  who  assumed  the  duty  of  converting 
the  Indians.  These  missionaries  were  well  and  respeet- 
fiilly  treated,  but  met  Avith  no  marked  success  in  the  pro})a- 
gation  of  their  doctrines. 

The  peace  lasted  until  about  1655,  when  it  was  succeeded 
by  a  ten  years'  war,  the  particulars  of  whicli  are  onl\^ 
recorded  in  the  most  general  terms.  It  is  certain  that 
during  this  season  of  hostility  the  Spanish  colonists  met 
with  such  terrible  losses,  and  were,  upon  many  occasions, 
so  signally  defeated  by  the  Araucanians,  that  the  preser- 
vation of  a  true  history  of  events  would  be  little  flattering 
to  their  national  pride. 

A  new  treaty  was  brought  about  in  1665,  by  the  gov- 
ernor, Francisco  Meneses,  and  the  country  -was  compara- 
tively at  rest  for  more  than  half  a  century.  The  Spaniards 
began  to  settle  in  the  Araucanian  territory,  and,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  naturally  overbearing  disposition,  became 
objects  of  dislike  and  suspicion  to  the  native  inhabitants. 
Certain  Spanish  ofiicials,  denominated  the  "Captains  of  tlie 
Friends,"  whose  nominal  duty  was  the  protection  of  the 


THE   ARAUCANIAN    IIACES. 


607 


missionaries,  but  who  assumed  unwarranted  powers,  were 
especially  odious. 

Ill  1722  the  discontent  of  the  Indians  led  them  to  a 
renewal  of  hostilities.  I'liey  apjjointed  one  Villuniilla,  a 
hold  and  ambitious  man,  to  the  ollice  of  I'oqui.  This 
chief  exerted  himself  tu  rouse  up  an  insuri'eetion  through- 
out Chili,  but,  failin<j;  in  this,  with  undiniinished  resolution, 
he  collected  what  forces  could  l)e  mustered,  and  fell  upon 
the  Spanish  settlements.  He  met  witli  no  little  success, 
gaining  possession  of  the  fortresses  of  Tucapcl,  Arauco, 
and  Puren.  In  the  words  of  the  historian,  "The  war 
afterwards  became  reduced  to  skirmishes  of  but  little  im- 
portance, which  were  linally  terminated  by  the  celebrated 
})eace  of  Negi'ete,  a  j)lace  situated  at  tlic  confluence  of  the 
rivers  Bio-bio  and  Lara."  The  more  im|)ortaiit  grievances 
complained  of  by  the  natives  were  redressed  at  tlie  settle- 
ment of  the  terms  of  treaty. 

Further  difliculties  arose  under  the  administration  of 
Don  Antonio  Gonzaga,  in  consequcnee  of  an  absui'd  and 
futile  attempt  by  that  officer  to  induce  or  eomjtcl  the 
Ai'aucanians  to  build  and  inhabit  cities  in  ceitain  j)]-c- 
scribcd  localities.  A  war  ensued  in  which  some  bloody 
battles  were  fought,  and  in  which  the  roving  Pehuenches 
were  involved,  lirst  in  behalf  of  the  Spaniards,  but  after- 
wards as  firm  allies  of  their  own  countrymen,  j'eace  was 
concluded  in  1773;  and  among  the  articles  of  stipulation, 
it  was  agreed  that  a  native  minister  should  be  stationed  at 
St.  Jago  to  keep  watch  over  his  nation's  interests. 

This  pacification  produced  the  happiest  results,  liclieved 
from  the  danger  of  hostile  incursions,  the  Spanish  settle- 
ments north  of  that  natural  boundary,  the  JMo-bio,  in- 
creased and  prospered,  while  the  free  tribes  at  the  soutli 
were  left  to  the  exercise  of  their  own  system  of  government 
and  the  enjoyment  of  their  well-earned  liberty. 

The  proud   distinction  of  being   the   only  aboriginal 


,.'l!i 


!,* 


I'l: 


J'. 


w 

■  1 

1" 

^ 

i-j 

^■. 

■    ; 

f    >^; 

' 

^^ 

i 

:i' 

t 

' 

i} 

I: 

lis 

"  ,V^  ■  '; 


f      i        I 


608 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Americans  who  liavc  maintained  tlieir  independence  when 
brought  directly  in  contact  with  Euro})euns,  still  belongs 
to  the   Araii(;aiiiaiis.     They  occupy   much   of   their   old 


tci'i'itor 


ith 


tlie  motlcrn  republic  of  Lhih,  a  district 
set  down  as  c(nering  an  area  of  twenty-eight  thousand 
sipiare  miles. 

It  may  well  be  doul)ted  wliether  the  world  has  ever 
produced  a  race  of  men,  who,  with  no  greater  advantages, 
from  numbers,  and  advancement  in  the  arts,  have  accom- 
])lishcd  military  exploits  worthy  to  be  compared  with 
those  recorded  in  Araucanian  history.  The  different  aims 
and  purposes  of  the  contending  parties  throughout  the  long 
and  terrible  contest  with  the  colonists,  enlist  our  Avarmest 
sympathies  with  the  natives.  On  the  one  hand,  the  insa- 
tiable thirst  for  gold,  the  pride  of  conquest,  or  the  scarcely 
less  detestable  spirit  of  intolerant  bigotry,  were  the  ruling 
motives—and  how  powerful  they  have  proved,  let  the  his- 
tory of  Spanish  Amei-ica  portray- — while,  on  the  other,  the 
whole  end  and  aim  of  the  rightful  owners  of  the  soil,  in- 
dividually and  collectively,  seem  to  have  been  directed 
with  unflinching  self-devotion  towards  the  one  object  of 
the  preservation  of  liberty  and  independence. 

Tlie  principal  benefit  derived  by  the  modern  7\.raucani- 
ans  from  intercourse  with  foreigners  is  in  the  introduction 
of  horses  and  cattle.  These,  with  the  vicuna  and  guanaco. 
constitute  their  principal  riches:  they  still  live  in  a  state 
of  primeval  simplicity,  and  freedom  from  most  of  the  arti- 
ficial wants  of  civilization. 


l 


ever 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PHYSICAL  CHAKACTKRISTICS — I'INZO.n's  DISCOVKRIES LANDING    OP 

PEDItO    ALVAKKZ  CAI5KAL  Ul'O.N  THK    liliAZILIAN   COAST — KXI'EUl- 

TION  UNDKIl  VKSI'UCIUS CANNIBALISM COLONIZATION  OF  THE 

COUNTUV,  AND  WAliS  WITH  THE  NATIVES — KATE  OF  JUAN  DE 

SOLIS,  AT  THE   ESTUARY    OF    LA   I'LATA SETTLEMENT    OF 

BAHIA    DE    TODOS    SANTOS     BY    DIOGO    ALVAREZ THE 

JESUITS — I'AKTICULAUS  OF  THECANNIIiAL  PROPEN- 
SITIES OF  THE  iNATIVES — THE  BOTOCUDOS. 

There  is  a  certain  degree  of  resemblance  in  form  and 
feature  between  the  Guarani  tribes  of  Brazil  with  those 
of  other  ])rovinces  farther  south,  and  the  races  north  of 
the  Amazon,  described  in  a  former  chapter.  The  obliquity 
of  the  eye,  and  the  yellowish  tinge  of  the  complexion,  with 
other  peculiarities,  give  them  somewhat  the  appearance  of 
the  Eastern  Asiatic  races.  "The  Eastern  Guarani,"  ac- 
cording to  Prichard,  "are  the  Tupi,  or  native  inhabitants 
of  the  Brazils.  'The  general  language  of  Brazil,'  says 
Ilervas,  'called  Tupi,  from  the  name  of  the  first  Indiana 
who  were  converted  to  the  holy  faith,  is  not  more  diifercnt 
from  the  Guarani,  viz :  of  Paraguay,  than  the  Portuguese 
from  the  Spanish.'  The  same  writer  enumerates,  from  in- 
formation derived  from  ecclesiastics,  the  following  tribes 
who  speak  the  Tupi,  with  little  variety  of  dialect,  viz:  the 
Cariyi,  southward  of  the  Tupi  pro])er,  reaching  as  far 
towards  the  south  as  the  Pio  Grande  del  Sud  or  S.  Pictro, 
39 


\     " 


.I!!!'"'.! 


m 


I 


ilHT 


II.     1  ' 


610 


INDIAN  liACES  OF  AMKUICA. 


tlie  Tamoyi,  Tupinaqui,  Timrniminos,  Tobnyari,  Tup'ni 
aiiibi,  A])anti,  Tapigoas,  and  several  other  tribes,  occuj ly- 
ing all  the  niaritiijie  countries  as  far  north  as  the  river 
Maragnon." 

The  lirst  information  obtained  by  Europeans  eoneerniiig 
Brazil  and  its  inhabitants,  v/as  from  the  re])ort  of  Vicente 
Pinzon,  the  associate  of  Columbus  upon  his  first  voyage 
to  America.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1500,  Pin/on,  who. 
with  several  vessels,  was  bound  upon  an  exploring  exjjcdi- 
tion,  made  the  present  Cape  St.  Augustine,  at  the  castcin 
extremity  of  the  southern  continent,  lie  took  formal  ])os- 
session  of  the  country,  and  coasted  thence  as  far  north  as 
the  mouth  of  the  Amazon,  of  which  he  was  the  discoveicr. 
The  voyage  was  in  some  res])ects  disastrous,  as  three  of  the 
vessels  were  lost,  and  several  men  perished  in  encounter?- 
with  the  ferocious  natives.  Upon  one  occasion,  a  single 
S])aniard  was  sent  forward  to  conciliate  and  parley  with 
a  group  of  Indians  who  stood  upon  a  hill  watching  the 
movements  of  the  strangers.  "  The  Spaniard,"  says  Southey, 
in  his  history  of  Brazil,  "made  all  the  friendly  signs  he 
could  devise,  and  threw  to  them  a  hawks'-bell,  for  whicli 
they  threw  down  something  which  was  supposed  to  be  a 
})iece  of  gold ;  he  stooped  for  it,  and  they  sprang  forw aid 
to  sei^.e  him."  lie  defended  himself  with  great  valor  and 
skill,  until  his  comrades  hastened  to  his  assistance.  "'I'lie 
savages,  with  their  deadly  archery,  slew  eight,  wounded 
many  more,  and  pursued  them  to  their  boats.  *  *  'I'hey 
rushed  on  like  wild  beasts,  despising  wounds  and  death; 
followed  the  boats  even  when  they  had  put  off,  dived  after 
them,  and  fairly  won  one  of  them,  having  slain  its  captain 
and  driven  out  the  crew." 

From  this  incident  it  will  plainly  appear  that  the  Span- 
ish, adventurers  had  an  enemy  to  deal  with  very  different 
from  the  gentle  and  luxurious  natives  of  the  islands.  That 
the  aborigines  of  some  portions  of  Brazil  were  a  warlike 


INDIAN  'I'lUUKS  OF  J5UAZIL. 


611 


and  fierce  race  of  cannibals,  cannot  be  doubted  from  the 
accounts  given  by  early  voyagers,  although  some  have 
an'ected  to  doubt  whether  they  were  actually  accustomed 
to  devour  human  flesh. 

During  the  spring  following  Pinzon's  discovery,  Pedio 
Alvarez  Cabral  accidentally  came  upon  the  Brazilian 
coast,  as  he  was  steering  westward  to  avoid  the  tenibh; 
calms  which  prevail  west  of  the  troi)ical  regions  of  Africa. 
He  landed  at  the  spot  afterwards  the  site  of  Cabralia,  about 
.seventeen  degrees  south  of  Ca[)C  St.  Augustine,  ('abral 
was  much  more  successful  than  his  predeces.sor  in  gaining 
the  confidence  of  the  natives.  The  tribe  with  whom  he 
fust  held  intercourse  was,  indeed,  of  a  more  tractable  and 
kindly  disj)osition  than  tho.se  met  with  by  Pinzon:  the 
usual  expedient  of  securing  a  jirisoner,  and  then  dismiss- 
ing him  with  caresses  and  j)rcsents,  brought  the  natives  . 
in  a(hniring  crowds  about  the  vessel. 

Cabral  took  po.ssession,  in  behalf  of  the  crown  of  Por- 
tugal, and,  erecting  a  crucifi.x,  ordered  the  ceremonials  of 
the  church  to  be  })erforined,  the  Indians  joining  readily  in 
the  attitude  of  devotion  assumed  by  the  com})any. 

The  next  Portuguese  exjjcdition,  under  Amerigo  Ves- 
pucci, sailed  from  Europe  in  May,  loOl.  Land  was  made 
somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  Ca})e  St.  lloquc,  in  five  de- 
grees south  latitude,  where  the  voyagers  were  horror- 
stricken  at  the  discovery  of  the  cannibal  pro})ensities  of 
the  native  inhabitants.  Two  sailors  were  missing,  who 
had  been  allowed  to  go  on  shore  to  reconnoitre,  and  the 
crew  landed  in  the  boats  to  ascertain  their  fate.  A  young 
Portuguese  imprudently  went  forward  alone  to  communi- 
cate with  the  natives,  when,  in  plain  sight  of  his  comrades, 
he  was  set  upon  by  the  women,  knocked  down  with  a 
club  from  behind,  and  dragged  off.  An  attack  upon  the 
boats  immediately  followed,  and,  although  the  savages 
A\  ere  easily  driven  off  by  the  fire-arms,  they  only  retired  to 


)i 


';'!; 


i 


i 


612 


INDIAN    HACKS  OF    AMKKICA. 


rlisinoml)or,  broil,  iind  fcju^t  upon  the  body  of  the  man 
thcv  'n:i(l  sccnreil.  15v  uninistaUablo  ^oslui'cs,  tlicy  iniiilo 
known  to  the  ctrew  tlmt  the  other  two  J'ortugue.<e  had  met 
with  tlie  same  fate. 

No  settlement  in  the  eoiintiy  was  attc.-.pted  nntil  the 
year  150.'5,  when  twenty-fjitr  men  were  left  at  the  port  of 
All  Saints.  I'rivate  adventurei's  eommeneed  eolonies  at 
various  j)oints  njion  the  eoast  during  the  ensuin.u'  years, 
making  the  collcetion  of  the  wood  from  whieh  the  eountiy 
derives  its  name,  the  })rineipal  o])ject  of  their  ell'm-ts.  A 
most  bloody  and  savage  warfare  soon  broke  out  between 
these  settlers  and  the  nat've  inhabitants,  in  whit.-h  either 
party  seemed  to  strive  for  pri'eminenee  in  eruelty.  A 
wsystcm  of  transjwrting  eriminals  from  the  old  eountry  to 
IJrazil  served  to  debase  the  eharaeter  of  the  colonies.  In 
warfare  with  the  Indians,  on  the  one  hand,  the  prisoners 
were  s'  "n  and  eaten;  and  on  the  other,  all  were  put  to 
death  except  such  at  would  be  valuable  for  slaves. 

Meantime,  the  rage  for  discovery  brought  out  divers 
adventurers  from  the  Old  World.  In  1509,  Don  Juan  de 
Solis,  accompanied  by  Vicente  Pinzon,  and  commissioned 
by  the  king  of  Castile,  coasted  as  far  south  as  the  mouth 
of  the  La  Plata,  entering  upon  his  route  the  magnificent 
harbor  of  liio  Janeiro.  The  tragic  fate  of  this  commander 
is  thus  described  by  Southey:  While  in  the  immense 
estuary  of  the  river,  "the  natives  invited  him  to  shore, 
and  he  landed  with  a  boat's-crew,  intending  to  catch  one 
of  them  and  carry  him  to  Spain.  Their  intention  was 
worse  than  his,  and  better  executed.  They  had  stationed 
a  party  in  am'^ush,  who  rose  suddenly  upon  the  crew, 
seized  the  boat,  broke  it  to  pieces  in  an  instant,  and  slew 
every  man  with  clubs:  then  they  took  the  bodies  upor 
their  shoulders,  carried  them  to  a  spot  which  was  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  Spaniards,  but  within  sight,  and  there  dis- 
membered, roasted,  and  devoured  them.     The  scene  of 


'  man 

iiiado 
111  met 


INDIAN  TKIHES  OF  BKAZIL. 


C13 


this  tnipjody  waa  on  the  nortli  slioro,  hctwocu  ^^()ntc  Video 
and  Miildonado,  near  a  rivulet,  which  still  bears  the  namo 
of  Sol  is." 

'IMie  circumstances  eonnec.'ted  with  the  first  settlement 
of  Baliia  dc  '^Fodos  Santos,  the  province  of  which  St.  Sal- 
va(hir  was  afterwards  the  capital,  arc  si-iigularly  strikin.ii. 
A  young  man,  from  Viana,  named  Diogo  Alvarez,  was 
one  of  a  ship's  comjiany  who  had  been  cast  away  upon 
the  neighboring  shoals.  Of  tho.se  who  reached  the  shore 
in  safety,  Diogo  was  the  oidy  one  fortunate  enough  to 
escape  being  devoured,  lie  managed  to  gain  the  good-will 
of  the  Indians  by  liis  services,  and  more  esj)ecially  com- 
manded their  respect  and  reverence  by  his  rnanagerrient 
of  a  mu.sket,  which,  with  a  store  of  ammunition,  he  ha<l 
saved  from  the  wreck.  They  denominated  him  Caramuru, 
"the  man  of  Ore,"  and  exalted  him  to  the  raidc  of  a  great 
chief  and  captain.  In  wars  against  the  nation  of  the 
Tapuyas,  the  terror  of  Diogo's  wonderful  weaj)on  gained 
the  most  signal  victories  for  his  as.sociates:  in  reward  for 
liis  services,  the  principal  men  of  the  country  gave  him 
their  daughters  for  wives,  and  he  lived  like  a  sovereign  sur- 
rounded by  reverential  attendants.  According  to  Southcy, 
"He  fixed  his  abode  where  A'illa  Yelha  was  afterwards 
erected;  and  .soon  saw  as  numerous  a  progeny  as  an  old 
patriarch's  rising  around  him.  The  best  families  in  Bahia 
trace  their  origin  to  him." 

Diogo  took  advantage  of  the  arrival  of  a  French  vessel 
upon  the  coast  to  return  to  Europe,  taking  with  him  one 
of  his  wives,  named  Paraguaza.  As  the  ship  got  undei 
weigh,  several  of  his  other  consorts  gave  proof  of  their 
affection  by  swimming  after  it,  and  one  of  tliem  persisted 
in  the  hopeless  endeavor  to  follow,  until  so  exhausted  that 
slie  perished  before  being  able  to  return  to  shore.  The 
king  and  queen  of  France  showed  great  attention  to  Diogo 

.'ir  directions  the  latter  v 


by 


bap- 


ilil 


'iilil 
i|pl ; 


M^ 


!'!i!| 


''^lii! 


,1  m 


Mf 


i'^: 


If 

li 

'■] 

1; 

■". 

B 

4 


iilMt 


CM 


INDIAN    ItACKS  OF  AMKUICA. 


Uzcd  with  rnucli  ceremony,  and  joined  to  her  liusbiuid  by 


a  Ici'id  miirri 


dinir  to  the  rules  of  the  church 


!  aceoni 

By  the  assistance  of  a  ricli  merchant,  Diogo  afterward-H 
retunuMl  to  Ihiliia  with  many  conveniences  forestahhshiii^ 
liimself  in  security  and  comfort,  and  for  the  arrangement 
of  a  reguhir  system  of  trafTie  in  the  productions  of  the 
country,  lie  proved  of  inestimabk^  service,  in  after  years, 
when  an  extensive  colonization  of  that  region  took  j)lace, 
in  k(>eping  uj)  friendly  relations  witli  the  Indians.  From 
this  central  point,  where  St,  Salvador  was  built,  commenced 
that  wonderful  influence  exerted  by  the  Jesuit  mission- 
aries over  the  native  }>opulation. 

These  enthusiastic  devotees  found  their  proselytes  not 
unapt  in  acquiring  the  Portuguese  language,  and  by  the 
attractions  of  musii;,  of  which  they  were  passionately  fond, 
together  with  kind  treatment  and  virtuous  example,  they 
won  over  great  numbers  to  a  conl'ormation  to  the  outward 
requisitions  of  their  faith,  if  not  to  an  understanding  of  its 
abstractions.  One  thing,  however,  seemed  almost  imprac- 
ticable, and  that  was  to  eradicate  the  inordinate  propensity 
to  cannibalism,  so  universally  diffused  among  the  Brazilian 
aborigines.  An  anecdote  upon  this  point,  related  by  Mr. 
Southey,  has  been  often  told,  but  will  bear  repetition:  "A 
Jesuit  one  day  found  a  Brazilian  woman  in  extreme  old 
age,  and  almosc  at  the  point  of  death.  Having  catechised 
her,  instructed  her,  as  he  conceived,  in  the  nature  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  completely  taken  care  of  her  soul,  he  began  to 
inquire  whether  there  was  any  kind  of  food  which  she 
could  take?  'Grandam,'  said  he,  'if  I  were  to  get  you  a 
little  sugar  now,  or  a  mouthful  of  some  of  our  nice  things 
which  Ave  bring  from  beyond  sea,  do  you  think  you  could 
eat  it?'  'Ah,  my  grandson,'  said  the  old  convert,  'my 
stomach  goes  against  every  thing.  There  is  but  one  thing 
which  I  fancy  I  could  touch.  If  I  had  the  little  hand  of 
a  little  tender  Tapuya  boy,  I  think  I  could  pick  the 


ikI  by 


wan].. 


ismii<r 


INDIAN  TUIUKS  OF  IJUAZIL. 


015 


little  bones;  but,  woo  is  ine,  there  is  nobody  to  go  out 
and  nhoot  one  for  niel'" 

In  addition  to  the  instructions  and  ])prsuusions  of  the 
Jesuits,  the  l*oi'tu,i.niese  colonial  luuhoritics  lent  tlu-ir  ;iid 
to  (Miforce  th(5  regulations  {irohibitin;^  tliis  nnniiturid  i-us- 
tom,  but  it  was  ](jng  a  bone  of'cont(,Miti(;n  between  them  and 
their  Indian  dcj)eiulents,  who  were  wiUini^  to  give  up  any 
other  of  their  national  usages  rather  than  this.  J'urclias 
gives  the  following  description  of  sonic  of  the  ecrenujiiics 
attendant  upon  the  dis{)osal  of  prisoners  taken  in  battle: 

"Their  captiues  they  conuey  in  the  niiddest  of  thi'ir 
arinie  hotne  to  their  territories,  and  thereuntoe  the  men 
will  not  sticke  to  give  their  sisters  or  daughtc.TS  U)  \k-\'- 
forme  all  the  duties  of  a  wife,  and  feed  theiu  with  the  best 
till  they  I'cdemand  the  same  out  of  their  i\cs\\.  *  *  When 
that  dismall  day  approcheth,  knowledge  is  given,  and  tlnj 
men,  women,  and  children  assemble  to  the  place  appointed, 
and  there  passe  the  morning  in  drinking,  and  the  Ca{)tiue 
(although  he  knoweth  the  dreadfull  issue)  danceth,  drink- 
eth,  and  frolickes  it  with  the  best." 

'J'l.iey  ihen  lead  him  about  the  town  by  a  rope :  "  Neither 
doth  he,  for  all  this,  hang  downc  his  head,  as  men  here 
going  to  be  hanged,  but  with  incredible  courage  emblazon- 
eth  his  ownc  worthinesse."  Like  the  North  American 
Indians,  the  victim  boasts  of  his  former  exploits  against 
his  cajttors,  with  every  species  of  taunt  and  provocation. 
lie  recounts  those  whom  he  has  assisted  to  devour,  and 
predicts  a  terrible  retribution  for  his  own  destruction. 
"Then  they  bring  him  stones,  k  bid  him  reucnge  his 
death.  lie  hurleth  them  at  those  that  stand  abo>'.t  him, 
whereof  there  are  some  foure  thousand,  and  hurteth 
diners." 

When  he  is  finally  dispatched,  his  temporary  wife 
"comes  to  the  carkasse,  and  spends  a  little  time  and  passion 
in  mourning,  but  her  Crocodiles  teares  are  soone  dried, 


1 


I     < 


ti' 


:ill 


iiiliili: 


1! 


":'''. .? 


v^ 


17 


616 


IXDIAN  KACES   OF  AMP:iUCA. 


and  the  liumor  fals  into  licr  tcctli,  wliicli  -V/'atcr  for  Ine 
first  morscll."  The  whole  process  of  dressing  and  devour- 
ing is  minutely  described. 

Bahia  was  settled  about  the  year  1550,  and  ten  years 
later  Rio  Janeiro  was  founded  by  the  Portuguese  governor, 
after  the  expulsion  of  the  French,  who  had  attenij)ted  to 
gain  possession  of  that  region  of  country.  The  coast  set- 
tlements were  steadily  increasing  in  stability  and  power, 
but  not  without  further  contests  with  the  native  inhabit- 
ants. Of  these,  the  most  savage  and  dangerous  were  the 
Botocudos,  dwelling  in  the  interior,  and  between  the  rivers 
Doce  and  Pardo,  from  tlie  fifteenth  to  the  twentieth  degree 
of  south  latitude.  They  have  always  been  considered  as 
being  among  the  most  repulsive  and  brutish  of  the  hu- 
man race.  They  are  supposed  to  be  the  same  race  as  the 
Aymores,  once  the  most  dangerous  enemies  of  the  Portu- 
guese settlers.  Their  natural  figure  and  the  conformation  oJ 
their  features  seem,  from  most  accounts,  to  be  by  no  means 
unpleasing.  Dwelling  in  a  forest  country,  their  comj^lcx- 
ion  is  fairer  than  that  of  many  of  the  South  American 
Indians;  it  is  of  a  light  yellowish  copper  color,  and  suJh- 
ciently  transparent  for  a  blush  to  be  perfectly  obvious. 
The  stories  of  their  frightful  and  hideous  appearance  may 
all  be  referred  to  one  most  barbarous  custom  of  mutilation 
and  deformity,  prevalent  among  them  from  the  earliest 
times.  This  is  the  insertion  of  a  large  wooden  plug  oi 
button  called  the  "botoque"  into  a  slit  in  the  under  lip: 
similar  api)endagcs  are  worn  at  the  ears. 

This  botoque  is  of  such  a  size  that  its  pressure  generally 
causes  the  lower  teeth  eventually  to  fall  out,  and  its  pro 
jection  gives  the  most  hideously  uncouth  and  brutish 
appearance  to  the  countenance.  The  slit  is  made  and  the 
plug  is  inserted  during  childhood,  and  as  the  opening 
enlarges  with  time,  the  size  of  the  botoque  is  increased 
until  it  haa  rea/"hed  the  full  measure  of  derorinity  and 


Ml 


.'! 


years 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


(317 


inconvenience.  It  interferes  with  mastication,  and  is  every 
way  disgusting  and  troublesome,  but,  like  many  scarcely 
less  irrational  and  absurd  customs  among  enlightened  com- 
munities, it  retains  its  hold  to  the  present  day. 

"When  the  botoque  is  rem^ovcd,  which  operation  is  :;s 
easily  effected  as  the  unbuttoning  a  coat,  a  di.sgustiiig  aper- 
ture is  disclosed,  through  which  the  loosened  and  distorted 
teeth  distinctly  appear.  Purchas  says  of  some  of  those 
wild  tribes  of  the  interior,  generally  called  TapuyavS,  tliat 
on  their  travels,  "  they  do  carry  great  store  of  tobacco  with 
them;  and  continually  they  have  a  leaf  laid  along  thi'ir 
mouth,  between  the  lip  and  the  teeth;  and,  as  they  go, 
the  same  runneth  out  of  the  hole  that  they  have  in  their  li'ps.'' 

The  Botocudos  are  of  an  indolent  dis})osition,  but  withal 
capable  of  enduring  the  greatest  fatigue  when  occasion 
requires.  Their  muscular  development  is  remarkably  lino, 
and  a  life  of  exposure  so  hardens  their  skin  that,  without 
clothing,  they  can  with  ])erfect  ease  make  their  way  tlirough 
tangled  brakes  which  would  circctuall}^  impede  the  pro- 
gress of  a  European.  Their  huts,  implements,  and  manner 
of  life  are  not  urdike  those  of  the  other  Eastern  nations  of 
the  tropical  portion  of  South  America,  with  the  exception 
of  their  sleeping  accommodations.  "^I'lie  hammock  is  not 
in  use  among  them,  but  rude  couches  of  bark,  «S:c.,  laid 
upon  the  ground,  are  all  that  they  require.  I'hey  have 
no  boats  or  canoes,  and  it  has  been  said  of  them  that  they 
were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  art  of  swimming.  This 
aj)pcars  to  be  an  error. 

The  character  of  the  Botocudos  as  cannibals,  combii^ed 
with  the  repulsive  appearance  caused  by  the  bototpie,  has 
given  them  a  worse  reputation  perhaps  than  they  deserve. 
Many  desirable  traits  are  observable  in  their  natural  char 
acter,  and  their  intellectual  capacity  docs  not  seem  to  be 
inferior  to  the  generality  of  South  American  Indiinis. 
Their  aversion  to  labour  does  not  result  in  apathy,  nor  do 


111 

M 


i  . 


11 


'  l<' 


618 


INDIAN  RACES  OF  AMERICA. 


we  perceive  in  them  that  gloomy,  morose,  and  rcservcil 
demeanor  common  among  some  of  the  Western  Abori 
gines.     They  are  spoken  of  as  "gay,  facetious,  and  ready 
to  converse." 

Some  praise-worthy  cllbrts  have  been  made  for  the  im- 
provement and  civiHzation  of  this  race,  the  cftects  of 
"whicli  have  been  very  s.'vtisfactory.  Mr.  Pritchard  quotes 
as  follows,  from  tlie  records  of  the  "Society  for  the  Pro- 
tection of  the  Aborigines:" 

"By  the  exertions  of  Guido  ^Nfarliere,  to  whom  com- 
munications Averc  made  on  the  part  of  this  society,  almost 
at  the  commencement,  Guido  Procrane,  a  Botocudo  In- 
dian of  great  native  talent,  was  introduced  to  the  blessings 
of  civilization  and  Christianity,  and  his  new  acquirements 
were  directed  to  the  amelioration  of  his  countrymen.  His 
exertions  have  been  crowned  with  signal  success,  and  four 
sections  of  the  barbarous  tribes  have  been  brought  under 
the  influence  of  civilization,  and  taught  to  cultivate  their 
soil,  from  which  they  have  raised  not  only  enough  for 
their  own  support,  but  a  surplus,  which  has  been  the  meaiis 
of  rescuing  even  a  portion  of  the  white  Brazilians  from 
famine  and  starvation.  Useful  laws  have  been  introduced 
among  them,  and  Guido  Procrane,  in  the  criminal  code 
which  he  has  established,  has  set  an  example  which  legisla- 
tors, the  hereditary  professors  of  Christianity,  would  do  well 
to  imitate,  in  the  total  exclusion  of  capital  punishment." 


}rvc(l 

ihori 

hcadj 


INDIAX  TKIUES  OF  BRAZIL.  t)19 


CHAPTER    II. 

SPCCKSS  OF  THE    PORTUGUESE  AGAINST    THE  NATIVES — THEIR    CON 

TESTS  WITH    SETTLERS   FROM  OTI'KR    COUNTRIES  OF  EUROPE 

ENGLISH    COLONY   AT    PARAIHA EXPULSION    OF  GUARANI 

TRIBES    FROM   THEIR    COL'NTKY  ON   LA   PLATA DIVI- 
SION OF  BRAZILIAN  NATIONS DAILY  ROUTINE  OF 

INDIAN  LIFE  IN  THE  FORESTS — REFLECTIONS. 

To  continue  our  narrative  of  Portuguese  settlement  and 
colonization,  the  efforts  of  the  viceroy  Mem  da  Sa,  resulted 
ill  the  reduction  of  the  savage  i.nd  turbulent  Botocudos. 
In  the  desultory  warfare  of  the  time,  the  aid  of  such  In- 
dian allies  as  were  attached  to  the  royal  cause  was  of  sig- 
nal advantage. 

The  immense  extent  of  fruitful  sea-coast  along  the 
eastern  shores  of  Brazil,  invited  adventurers  from  various 
European  nations.  The  French,  as  we  have  seen,  were 
repelled  in  their  efforts  to  colonize  the  region  of  the  La 
Plata,  and  the  Portuguese  were  no  less  successful  in  expel- 
ing  intruders  from  other  quarters.  An  English  settlement 
had  been  commenced  at  Paraiba,  to  the  northward  of  Per- 
nambuco.  The  colonists  at  this  place,  says  Southey,  "con- 
nected themselves  with  the  native  women;  and  in  another 
generation  the  Anglo-Tupi  ^famalucos  might  have  been 
found  dangerous  neighbors,  if  the  governor  of  St.  Sebas- 
tians, steadily  pursuing  the  system  of  his  court,  had  not, 
in  the  fifth  year  of  their  abode,  attacked  and  exteuninated 
them.  They  who  escaped  from  the  merciless  war  which 
the  Portuguese  waged  against  all  interlopers,  fled  into  the 
interior,  and  either  they  were  eaten  by  the  savages,  as  was 
believed,  or  lived  and  died  among  them,  becoming  sav- 
ages them.selves." 

Long  and  wearisome  details  of  struggles  for  empire 
in  the  New  World  between  the  ]'*ortuguese,  Spanish,  and 


■i:    I 
( 


M 

II!' 


620 


INDIAN   lUCES   OF  AMERICA. 


iW  '     «■      !■ 


Dutch,  occupy  tlic  history  of  Brazil  until  the  establish 
ment  in  that  country  of  the  royal  family  of  Portugal,  in 
1808.  Few,  except  the  Jesuits,  seemed  to  have  any  care 
for  the  rights  of  the  native  population,  or  interest  in  their 
imj)rovemcnt.  These  missionaries — zealous  and  devoted 
in  whatever  cause,  whether  for  good  or  ill,  that  they  es- 
poused— drew  upon  themselves  no  trilJing  persecution  by 
their  eiforts  in  behalf  of  the  Indians.  Upon  a  settlement 
of  the  limits  of  jurisdiction  on  the  La  Plata,  in  1750,  be- 
tween the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  governments,  thirt}^ 
tliousand  of  the  Guarani  tribe  were  compelled  to  abandon 
their  homes.  These  Indians  had  been  objects  of  especial 
care  to  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  and  in  the  resistance  which 
they  naturally  made  to  so  sumniary  a  removal,  they  in- 
volved their  spiritual  guides  in  difficulties. 

"The  Indians,"  says  Conder,  "rose  in  all  directions  to 
oppose  the  mandate;  but  the  short  though  vigorous  resist- 
ance which  tliey  made,  only  left  them  more  than  ever  in 
the  power  of  their  enemies.  Great  numbers  were  slaugli- 
tered,  and  those  who  refused  to  submit  were  compelled  to 
leave  the  country.  *  *  In  the  year  1761,  when  Carlos 
III.  acceded  to  the  throne  of  Spain,  the  treaty  of  limits 
was  annulled;  the  Guaranies  who  had  been  so  wanton! v 
.  nd  cruelly  expelled  were  instructed  to  return  to  their 
dilapidated  town  and  wasted  country,  and  the  Jesuits, 
resuming  their  benignant  administration,  exerted  them- 
selves t  repair,  as  far  as  possible,  the  evils  tlir.t  had  been 
done." 

The  effects  of  the  Catholic  mission  in  Brazil  are  still 
visible  among  no  small  portion  of  the  aboriginal  inhabit- 
ants. Unfortunately  in  too  many  instances  the  religion 
which  they  now  profess  is  but  a  graft  upon  their  old 
superstitions. 

The  Indians  of  Brazil  are  divided  into  a  great  number 
of  tribes,  differing  more  in  language  than  in  general  ap- 


:al,  in 

care 

tlieir 

T  es- 
)ii  by 
ncnt 
be- 
ll irtv 


I>rDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRAZIL. 


621 


pcarance  and  characteristics,  Tlie  Tupi?,  who  were  the 
most  extensively  dilFused  over  the  coast  country  at  the  pe- 
riod ol'  tlie  first  Euro])ean  discovery,  are  greatly  reduced  in 
numbers.  The  tribes  of  the  far  interior,  where  little  or  no 
interccMirse  is  held  with  the  whites,  have  changed  but  littly 
from  tlie  habits  and  appearance  of  their  ancestors.  ])r. 
Von  Martins  has  enumerated  no  less  than  two  hundred  and 
fifty  distinct  tribes  or  nations  within  the  limits  of  ]?razil; 
many  of  them,  to  be  sure,  consisting  of  but  few  fiimilies 
ur  individuals,  and  not  sufliciently  distinct  one  from  an- 
other to  render  a  classilication  useful  or  interesting.  This 
traveller  has  given  a  very  lively  picture  of  the  life  and 
daily  routine  of  these  denizens  of  the  forest.  The  folUnv- 
ing  sketch  is  selected  from  his  "Travels,"  and  transcribed 
in  an  article  upon  the  lirazilian  Indians,  to  be  found  in 
that  invaluable  periodical,  the  "Penny  ^lagazine:" 

"As  soon  as  the  first  "ays  of  the  sun  beam  on  the  hut 
of  the  Indian,  he  awakes,  rises  immediately,  and  goes  to 
the  door,  where  he  generally  spends  some  time  in  rubbing 
and  stretching  his  limbs. — Heturning  into  the  hut,  he  looks 
for  the  still  live  embers  of  the  fire  of  the  dav  before,  or 
lights  it  afresh  by  means  of  two  dry  sticks,  one  of  which 
he  sets  upon  the  other,  twirling  it  like  a  mill  till  it  kin- 
dles, and  then  he  adds  dry  grass  or  straw.  All  the  male 
inhabitants  then  take  })art  in  the  business;  some  drag 
wood  out  of  the  forest;  others  heap  up  the  fire  between 
several  large  stones,  and  all  of  them  seat  themselves  round 
it  in  a  squatting  attitude.  Without  looking  at  or  s])eak- 
ing  to  each  other,  they  often  remain  for  hours  together 
in  this  position,  solely  engaged  in  keeping  in  the  iire, 
or  roasting  Spanish  potatoes,  bananas,  ears  o.  miize, 
&c.,  in  the  ashes  for  breakfast.  A  tame  monkey,  or  some 
other  of  their  numerous  domestic  animals  with  which  they 
play,  serves  to  amuse  them.  ^J'he  first  employment  of  the 
women,  on  leaving  their  hammocks,  is  to  paint  themselves 


i  ■■, 

i;' 

if' 


ill 

w 


i    I 


i^Hi 


ii'l 


A  ' 


m        i 


622 


INDIAN  liACES  OF  AMERICA. 


and  their  cliildrcii,  on  wliicli  ench  goes  to  licr  domestic 
occupation,  stripping  the  threads  from  the  jiahn-trces, 
manufacturing  nets,  malcing  eartlien-warc,  rubbing  man- 
dioca,  and  pounding  maize,  from  which  they  make  a  cool- 
ing beverage.  Others  go  to  their  little  plantations  to  fetch 
maize,  mandioca,  and  beans;  or  into  the  forest  to  look 
for  wild  fruits  and  roots.  When  the  men  have  finished 
their  frugal  breakfast,  thej  prepare  their  bows,  arrows, 
strings,  &c." 

As  the  heat  of  the  day  increases,  the  Indian  takes  his 
batli,  and  then  systematically  sets  about  his  day's  hunt; 
"the  ta{)ir,  monkies,  pigs,  urmadilloes,  pascas,  and  agou- 
tis, are  his  favorite  dishes,  but  he  readily  eats  deer,  birds, 
turtles,  and  fish,  and  in  case  of  need,  conteats  himself  with 
serpents,  toads,  and  larvje  of  large  insects  roasted." 

The  general  tenor  of  this  savage  life,  as  well  as  the  con- 
struction of  dwellings,  implements,  boats,  &;c.,  is  not  unlike 
what  has  already  been  described  relating  to  the  Indians  of 
Guiana.  The  same  rude  huts  of  palm,  open,  or  closed 
upon  the  most  .^xposed  quarter  by  thatch  or  wicker-work, 
the  hammocks,  the  simplest  form  of  pottery  and  wooden 
vessels,  and  the  almost  invariable  arms  and  weapons  of 
the  savage,  suffice  for  their  necessities,  and  for  what  they 
know  of  luxury  and  comfort. 

Some  of  the  remote  tribes  are  said  to  be  still  addicted 
to  the  old  national  propensity  for  cannibalism.  "Infanti- 
cide is  still  more  common ;  and  many  tribes  put  the  aged 
and  infirm  to  death.  Dr.  Von  Martins  states  that  the 
Guaicuru  women  never  rear  any  children  before  their 
thirtieth  year;  the  Guanas  often  bury  their  female  chil- 
dren alive,  and  even  the  mothers  expose  their  new-born 
infants;  and  parental  affection  is  a  thing  unknown  on  the 
father's  side." 

Can  we  indulge  any  rational  hope  that  these  barbarous 
Qations  will  ever  be  brought,  as  a  distinct  race,  within  the 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BKAZIL. 


(128 


pale  )f  civilization  ;  or  must  tlic  usual  course  of  extinc- 
tion or  amalgamation  be  the  only  means  by  \vhi<'ii  the 
immense  and  luxujiantly  fertile  regions  which  they  inhabit 
shall  eventually  be  improved  for  the  support  ol'  lh(>  mil- 
lions that  they  are  capable  of  sustaining?  The  lioipiuis 
within  the  state  of  New  York,  and  the  ("lierokee  setth'- 
mentswest  of  the  Mississippi,  ar(,'  almost  the  only  jii'()si)er- 
ous  and  civilized  districts  inhabited  l.)y  American  Indians. 
It  will  be  a  most  gratifying  result  if  the  next  generation 
shall  witness  the  original  pro})rietoi's  of  this  vast  cotuitry 
taking,  in  the  persons  of  their  represenlatives,  an  etpial 
place  among  its  iMiropean  occujiants.  A  right  state  of 
feeling,  upon  the  subject  of  what  is  due  to  i\\'.'  Indian, 
seems  to  be  upon  the  ascendant  in  the  Tnite'd  States, 
except  in  those  districts  where  there  is  still  a  conflict  of 
interest  between  the  diifcrcnt  races. 


m 


:l!' 


''I 


:.!i 


m 

i    '    t 


THE  PAMPAS  INDIANS. 


TIIEIK  IIOKSKMA.NSHIP — TIIEIU   MOOK  OF  LIl'K — Sill   KKANTIS  IIKAUS 
nKsCKll'TIONS  OK  TlIK    KArK FKMALK  CAI'TIVKS   AMONCi   TIIK   IN- 
DIANS— TKAUING  VISITS  TO  KUKOl'KAN  SHTTLICMICNTS CLASSI- 
FICATION  OF  TKIHHS CHANUI':   IN   TIIKIK   CO.NDlTiO.N'    l!V    Tllli; 

liNTKODUCTlON   OF  EUROPKAN   DO.MKSTIC   AM.MAI.S. 

The  vast  jilains  or  pampas  of  Buenos  Ayres  are  inliab- 
ited — where  European  settlements  have  not  yet  extended 
— by  a  wild  and  singular  raee  of  Indians.  To  them  the 
horse  is  all  that  the  rein-deer  is  to  the  Laplanders,  consti- 
tuting their  chief  support,  and  almost  their  only  enjoyment. 
Nearly  destitute  of  clothing,  and  careless  of  the  ordinary 
conveniences  and  comforts  of  life,  they  are  train'.'d  from 
infancy  to  scour  the  plains,  often  without  saddles,  upon 
the  wild  horses  who  roam  at  will  over  the  boundless  ex- 
panse of  meadow.  The  world  has  never  produced  such 
magnificent  horsemen:  "The  Gauchos,"  says  Sir  Francis 
Head,  "who  themselves  ride  so  beautifully,  all  declare  that 
it  is  impossible  to  ride  with  an  Indian ;  for  that  the  [ndians' 
horses  are  better  than  theirs,  and  also  that  they  have  such 
a  way  of  urging  on  their  horses  by  their  cri(\s,  and  by  a 
peculiar  motion  of  their  bodies,  that  even  '^  they  were  to 
change  horses,  the  Indians  would  beat  th  The  Gau- 

chos all  seemed  to  dread  very  much  the  Indians'  si)ears. 
They  said  that  some  of  the  Indians  charged  without  either 
saddle  or  bridle,  and  that  in  some  instances  they  were  hang- 
ing almost  under  the  bellies  of  their  horses,  and  shrieking 
BO  that  the  horses  were  afraid  to  face  them." 


II 


THE  P-11.MPAS  INDIANS. 


625 


The  whole  lives  of  these  singular  people  are  spent  upon 
norsebaek,  a  natural  result  of  which  is  an  incapacity  for 
other  sj)ccies  of  exertion.  Walking  is  intolerable  to  thcui : 
the  fatigue  and  tediousness  of  such  a  mode  of  travelling 
over  an  unliuiited  level,  would  be  dishearteiung  to  any, 
more  particularly  to  those  who  have  continually  availed 
themselves  of  the  services  of  the  horse. 

Something  of  the  ordinary  s^^stem  of  Indian  government 
exists  among  the  numerous  ti'ibes,  but  they  are  all  of  unset- 
tled and  roving  habits,  shifting  their  quarters  continually 
in  search  of  better  pasturage,  and  .'subsisting  chiefly  upon 
mares'  flesh.  Wherever  they  betake  themselves,  they 
drive  before  them  great  herds  of  horses,  and  the  skill 
with  which  they  will  catch,  mount,  and  manage  a  fresh 
animal,  when  the  one  they  have  been  riding  is  wearied,  is 
unequalled. 

The  author  above  quoted,  whose  characteristically  graphic 
description  of  a  gallop  across  the  pampas  has  won  so  ex- 
tensive a  reputation,  observes  of  the  Indians:  "The  occu- 
pation of  their  lives  is  war,  which  they  consider  is  their 
noble  and  most  natural  employment;  and  they  declare 
that  the  proudest  attitude  of  the  human  figure  is  when, 
bending  over  his  horse,  man  is  riding  at  his  enemy.  The 
principal  weapon  which  they  use  is  a  spear  eighteen  feet 
long;  they  manage  it  with  great  dexterity,  and  arc  able 
to  give  it  a  tremulous  motion  which  has  often  shaken  the 
sword  from  the  hand  of  their  European  adversaries."  In 
addition  to  the  spear,  they  make  use,  both  in  war  and 
hunting,  of  a  most  effective  instrument  called  the  ballos. 
This  is  a  species  of  slung-shot,  consisting  of  o  stout  leathern 
thong  with  a  ball  of  lead  attached  to  either  end.  A  terri- 
ble blow  can  be  struck  with  this  weapon,  and,  as  a  missile, 
the  Indians  use  it  with  great  dexterity  and  effect  within  a 
moderate  range.  The  lasso,  or  long  noose  attached  to  the 
saddle,  is  also  an  effective  implement. 
40 


il 


:ii 


M 


1  \ 


:.  'I 


'^i'' 


rm 


INDIAN   J:AC1;S  of  AMElilCA, 


() 


Between  tlicrn  uiid  the  Gauclios,  a  acarcoly  less  wild  race 
r  cavaliers,  princij)al]y  iA'  Si)aiiisli  descent,  the  most  deadly 
hostility  eonstantlv  prevails.  Tii  the  exposed  districts,  rude 
fortifications  are  erected  for  the  })rotecti(jn  of  the  wliite 
iiiliabitants  against  Indian  incursions.  The  })rincij)al  de- 
fence of  these  fortresses  is  said  to  be  a  narrow  ditch,  over 
which  the  Indian  horses,  accustomed  to  the  unobstructed 
level  of  the  prairie,  refuse  to  leap,  and  notiiing  could  in- 
duce their  rider  to  attein})t  any  thing  upon  foot.  Upon 
occasion  of  a  successful  assault,  the  savages  show  little 
inercy.  All  the  unfortunate  whites  are  nuiidercd,  except 
such  of  the  young  women  as  api)ear  sufficiently  attractive 
to  make  desirable  wives.  "Wiicther  the  poor  girls  can 
ride  or  not,"  says  Head,  "they  are  instantly  placed  upon 
liorses,  and  when  the  hasty  j)lunder  of  the  hut  is  con- 
cluded, they  are  driven  away  from  its  smoking  ruins  and 
from  the  horrid  scene  which  surrounds  it." 

"At  a  pace  v»^hich  in  Europe  is  unknown,  they  gallop 
over  the  trackless  regions  before  them,  fed  upon  mares' 
flesh,  sleeping  on  the  ground,  until  they  ari-ive  in  the  In- 
dian's territory,  when  they  have  instantly  to  adopt  the 
wild  life  of  their  captors. 

"  I  was  inform.ed  by  a  very  intelligent  French  officer,  who 
was  of  high  rank  in  the  Peruvian  army,  that  on  friendly 
terms,  he  had  once  passed  through  part  of  the  territory 
of  these  Pampas  Indians,  in  order  to  attack  a  tribe  who 
were  at  war  with  them,  and  that  he  had  met  several  of  the 
young  women  who  had  been  thus  carried  off  by  the  Indians. 

"  He  told  me  that  he  had  offered  to  obtain  })ermission  for 
them  to  return  to  their  country,  and  that  he  had,  in  addi- 
tion, offered  them  large  sums  of  money  if  they  would,  in 
the  mean  while,  act  as  interpreters;  but  they  all  replied 
that  no  inducement  in  the  world  should  ever  make  them 
leave  their  hnobands,  or  their  children,  and  that  they  wore 
quite  delighted  with  the  life  they  led." 


'mi 


THE  PAMI'AS  INDIANS. 


C27 


There  is  certainly  somctliing  strangely  fascinating  in  the 
idea  of  a  wild  \\l\\  unfettered  by  the  artilieial  restniintrf 
of  society,  and  the  constant  call  fur  exertion  arid  care  inci- 
dent to  civili/,ed  existence.     \\v  see  that  in  a  majority  of 


desoh 


d  inh 


eases  the  mliabitants  oi  even  the  nujst 
pitahle  regions  of  the  earth,  after  experiencing  the  com- 
forts of  civilization,  are  still  glad  to  return  to  the  scenes 
and  habits  to  which  they  were  early  inured.  It  is  easier 
for  the  educated  and  eidightened  European  to  discard  the 
advantages  which  he  has  inherited,  and  to  adopt  the  hab- 
its and  life  of  the  savage,  especially  in  a  genial  and  spon- 
taneously }>roductivc  clime,  than  for  the  latter  to  give  up 
his  wild  freedom  for  the  responsibilities  and  cares  of 
civilization. 

In  times  of  peace  the  free  rovers  of  the  South  Ameri- 
can pampas  make  occasional  visits  to  the  European  towns 
and  settlements  for  the  purpose  of  trade.  They  bring  in 
such  few  articles  of  peltry,  &c.,  as  they  deal  in,  to  barter 
for  sugar,  "knives,  spurs,  and  liquor."  Delivering  up  all 
their  dangerous  weapons  to  their  chief,  they  devote  them- 
selves, at  first,  to  a  regular  drinking-bout,  after  recovering 
from  which,  they  offer  their  goods  to  the  trades-people. 
They  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  money,  or  the  ordina- 
ry rules  of  weight  and  measure,  but  designate,  by  some 
mark  of  their  own,  the  quantity  of  the  commodity  they 
require  in  exchange  for  their  own  stock. 

The  Pam.pas  Indians  arc  cla.ssified  as  belonging  to  the 
great  I'atagonian  or  Pampean  groupe,  wdiich  is  divided 
into  the  following  nations:  the  Tehuelclie,  Puelchc,  Char- 
rua,  Mbocobi  or  Toba,  Mataguayo,  Ahipones,  and  Lengua. 
That  portion  of  which  w^e  have  been  speaking  in  this 
chapter,  consists  principally  of  the  Puelche :  their  ancestors 
were  found  further  north,  bordering  upon  the  tribes  of  Para- 
guay and  upon  the  first  arrival  and  settlement  of  Europeans 
upon  the  La  Plata,  proved  most  formidable  enemies. 


I'd 


.^  I 


111 


I 


ih!! 


i 


C28 


INDIAN   IIAC'ES  OF   AMKUICA. 


They  also  iuliubitcd  the  eastern  rnouiituiuous  rcyions  of 
Oliili,  wlicro  they  W(irc  allied  to  and  classed  with  the  no- 
ble and  warlike  Araueanians.  Molina,  in  his  account  of 
that  race,  says  of  the  Puelches:  "Those,  although  they 
conform  to  the  general  customs  of  the  luition,  always  dis- 
cover a  greater  rudeness  and  savngoness  of  manners. 
Their  name  signifies  Kastern-men.  *  *  The  Araucanians 
hold  these  mountaineers  in  high  estimation  for  the  im- 
portant services  which  they  occasionally  render  them,  and 
for  the  fidelity  which  they  have  always  observed  in  their 
alliance  with  them." 

The  first  town  built  upon  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Buenos  Ay  res,  in  15o4,  was  destroyed  by  the  Indians;  and 
their  bold  attacks  repelled  the  Spanish  adventurers  in  this 
quarter  until  1580.  Kven  then  they  renewed  their  hos- 
tilities, but  the  fy'l  of  their  chief  cacique  in  battle,  and 
the  more  effieient  fortification  of  the  new  town,  baffled 
them  and  caused  their  entire  defeat. 

In  these  early  times  their  habits  were  of  course  different 
from  wliat  we  may  now  notice,  as  horses  and  cattle  were 
not  introduced  until  the  arrival  of  P^uropcans.  The  emu 
or  American  ostrich,  still  an  inhabitant  of  the  Pampas, 
the  deer,  sloth,  and  small  game,  supplied  them  with  food. 
The  unprecedented  natural  increase  of  cattle  and  horses, 
turned  free  to  roam  over  the  rich  grassy  savannahs,  sup- 
plied them  with  entire!}''  new  resources. 

Those  Indians  of  Buenos  Ayres,  Paraguay,  and  other 
southern  provinces,  who  live  in  the  midst  of  the  white 
settlements,  are  mostly  Christian  converts,  at  least  in  name 
and  the  observance  of  religious  formula;. 

The  extent  to  which  the  different  nations  of  Europe, 
Africa,  and  America  have  become  mixed  in  most  of  the 
South  American  provinces,  renders  any  thing  like  accurate 
enumeration  of  the  amount  of  the  present  Indian  popula- 
tion difficult,  if  not  impossible. 


THE  TATAGONIANS. 


RARI  Y  KXAGGERATKD  nEPORTS  CONrERNINTf  TIIKM RACE  TO  WHICH 

THEY    HEr.ONfi NATPRE  f»F  THE  COUNTRY — TERRA   DEL  F17EGO 

GENERAl,  DESCKII'TION  AND  CLASSIFICATION   OF   THE    INHAHIT- 

ANTS — CAl'TAIN   FIT/KOY's  NAUKATIVE — I'II\  SICAI,  CONFOR. 

MATI(»N  OF  THE  NATIVES — SCANTINESS  (»F  THEIR  CI,OTHING 

THEIR  HUTS,  RESOURCES  FOR  F(»OI),  ETC. — FUEOIANS 

CARRIED  TO  ENGLAND  UY  IITZRCY — ATTEMPT  AT  THE 

INTRODUCTION  OF  AGRICULTURE  ON  THE  ISLAND 

PECHERAIS    DESCUIHEU    IN   WlLKEs'  NARRATIVE 
OF  THE  U.  states'  EXPLORlN(i  EXPEDITION. 


Most  extravagant  reports  were  circulated,  in  early  times, 
of  tlic  gigantic  size  of  the  natives  of  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  American  continent.  These  were  not  wholly  fabu- 
lous, Vmt  merely  exaggerations,  as  from  recent  travellers 
we  have  accurate  descriptions  of  various  tribes,  among 
which  the  average  height  of  the  men  greatly  exceeds  that 
of  mankind  in  general.  The  "^rohuelches  in  particular, 
although'  less  warlike  and  dangerous  than  many  other 
nations,  are  noted  for  their  gigantic  proportions.  They 
are  said  to  be  more  than  six  feet  in  height,  upon  an  aver- 
age, and  some  of  them  considerably  exceed  that  measure: 
They  are  muscular,  and  athletic  in  proportion. 

The  Patagonian  tribes  are  included  under  the  same 
general  classification  with  the  Puelches  of  the  pampas,  and 
t'  c  numerous  nations  further  north,  spread  over  the  vast 
aiK^  indeterminate  region  denominated  Chaco,  between 
Paraguay  and  Chili.  Over  the  extensive  plains,  and  table- 
la  lul  between  the  Andes  and  the  eastern  sea-board,  the 


f 


■ft 


OoO 


INDIAN  KACEri  OF  A^ilEWCA. 


wild  tribes  (*f  rutagoiiiu  wander  in  undisturbed  freedom. 
'J'lieir  m.anner  of  life  is  similar  to  that  (jf  the  Pamj)as  In- 
dians of  Southern  l^uenos  Ayres,  as  wild  hoi'ses  and  eattlc 
have  spread  ovei-  the  northern  parts  of  their  eountry  in 
almost  equal  abundance.  'J'he  same  fierce,  untameal)le 
Bpirit,  and  the  same  carelessness  of  the  comforts  of  life, 
with  ability  to  endure  the  extremes  of  exposui'e  and  fa- 
tigue, characterize  all  these  races  of  centaurs.  Kven  in 
the  colder  regions  of  the  extreme  south,  little  in  the  way 
of  clothing  is  worn,  ;'nd  the  naked  body  of  the  savage  is 
exposed  to  snows  and  storms,  against  which  the  covering 
of  the  European  would  alford  incomplete  protection. 

"These  men,"  si^j's  Purchas,  speaking  of  those  near  the 
straits  of  Magellan,  "both  (jiiants  and  others,  went  cither 
wholly  naked,  or  so  clothed,  as  they  seemed  not  to  dread 
ihe  cold,  which  is  yet  there  so  violent,  that  besides  the 
mountaine-toppes,  alwaj''  couered  with  Snow,  their  very 
Summers,  in  the  middest  thereof,  frecth  them  not  from  ice." 

A  great  portion  of  Patagonia  is  sterile  and  barren,  desti- 
tute of  timber,  and  covered  only  with  a  icind  of  coarse  grass, 
or  with  thorny  shrubs.  The  eountry  rises  in  a  series  of 
terraces  from  the  low  eastern  sea-coast  to  the  range  of  the 
Andes.  The  northern  districts  are  in  many  parts  fertile 
and  heavily  timbered. 

Crossing  the  Straits  of  Magc'^.an,  we  find  one  of  the  most 
miserable  and  desolate  countries  on  the  globe.  Terra  del 
Fuego,  the  land  of  fire,  so  called  because  of  the  numerous 
fires  seen  upon  its  coast  by  the  early  navigators,  is  a  cold 
and  barren  island.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  either 
rocky  and  mountainous,  or  of  such  a  cold  and  miry  soil 
as  to  obstruct  travel  and  improvement.  The  forests  are 
rendered  nearly  impassable  by  under-growth.  The  inhab- 
itants are  partly,  as  would  appear,  of  the  same  race  with 
the  Patagonians,  but  as  a  body  they  are  generally  classed 
with  the  Andian  Groupe,  and  considered  to  have  some 


THE  PATACiONIANS. 


631 


Olll. 

In- 

attlo 

■  in 

:')lc 


'y 


{ifl'mity  to  tlic  Arjiuoaniaiis.  "One  description,"  sajs 
Pritcliard,  "is  a}>j)liral>lo  to  botli  nations.  Their  heads 
are  proportionably  h\r<.y ;  tlieir  faces  ronnd,  with  proj(>eting 
cheek-])ones,  lar^■e  mouths,  thick  11] is,  short  flattened  noses, 
with  wide  nostrils  ;  tlieir  eyes  are  horizontally  ]ilaced,  and 
not  inclined;  otlierwise  their  countiMiance  would  ajiproxi- 
mate  greatly  to  that  of  the  nomadic  ^rartars;  they  have 
little  beard;  their  lbreh(>a<ls  are  narrow,  and  falling  back; 
their  chins  broad  and  slu)i't.'' 

Among  the  most  interesting  accounts  of  these  Indians 
is  that  given  by  Captain  Fit/-roy,  in  the;  "Narrative  of  the 
Voyages  of  the  Adventure  and  the  ?)eagle."  liieutenant 
Charles  Wilkes,  commander  of  the  United  States'  explor- 
ing expedition,  has  also  very  graphically  described  the  ap- 
pearance and  peculiarities  of  the  p)eojile  and  country, 

Fitzroy  estimates  the  whole  ])(>j)ulation  at  about  three 
thousand  adults.  They  are  dividctl  into  five  different  tribes 
or  nations,  viz:  the  Yacanas,  Tekeenicas,  Alikhoolip, 
Pecherais,  and  Iluemuls.  '^^fhe  name  of  Pecherais  was  be- 
stowed by  Bougainville  (as  descrij)tive  of  their  mode  of  sub- 
sistence) upon  these  coast  Indians  who  have  been  considered 
as  belonging  to  the  Araucanian  family.  The  Yocanas 
aj^pcar  to  be  the  same  with  the  neighboring  Patagonians. 

The  separate  tribes  differ  considerably  in  their  physical 
develojiment,  but  tlie  generality  of  these  islanders  present 
a  wretched  and  miserable  aspect  of  deformity.  Their 
withered  and  emaciated  lind)s  are  in  strong  contrast  to  the 
breadth  of  the  chest  and  the  size  of  the  abdomen,  and 
the  squatting  position  always  assumed  by  them  when  at 
rest,  causes  the  skin  of  the  knee-joint  to  become  stretched 
and  loose:  when  standing,  it  hangs  in  unsightly  folds. 
'J'heir  eyes  are  almost  universally  inflamed  and  sore  from 
the  effects  of  the  smoke  in  their  wigwams.  There  are  few 
races  upon  the  globe  who  bear  so  strongly  the  marks  of 
want  and  destitution. 


14': 


r  'If 


«'f| 


<■  ,1 


:|| 


632 


INDIAN  llACES  OF  AMERICA. 


Unlike  the  natives  of  the  cold  climes  of  Northern  Amer- 
ica, the  Fuegians  totally  neglect  the  precaution  of  fortify- 
ing themselves  against  the  severities  of  winter  by  warm 
and  comfortable  eloth.ing.  Tlie  majority  of  tbe  men  go 
almost  entirely  naked.  A  single  skin  of  the  guanaco  (a 
southern  quadruped  of  the  genus  of  the  llama),  or  of  the 
different  species  of  seal,  thrown  over  the  shoulders,  and, 
in  a  few  instances,  reduced  to  the  semblance  of  a  garment, 
by  a  girdle,  is  all  that  is  seen  in  the  way  of  clothing. 
Some  slight  fillets  are  worn  about  the  head,  rather  f;  )m 
a  fancy  for  ornament  than  as  a  covering.  The  le:i  aios 
usually  wear  an  entire  guanaco  skin,  in  the  loose  fold  of 
which,  above  the  belt,  they  carry  their  infants:  a  more 
convenient  method  than  that  adopted  in  some  northern 
climes,  of  stowing  the  child  in  the  huge  boot. 

The  huts  which  they  inhabit  are  built,  much  after  the 
fashion  of  the  ordinary  Indian  wigwam,  of  poles  bent  to- 
gether at  the  top,  or  of  stiff  stakes  plf  jed  in  the  form  of 
a  cone.  These  rude  dwellings  are  neither  tight  nor  com- 
fortable :  they  are  generally  intended  merely  for  temporary 
domiciles,  as  the  necessity  for  constant  migration  in  search 
of  the  products  of  the  sea  and  coast,  renders  any  perma- 
nent settlement  impracticable.  The  arts  of  agriculture  are 
entirely  unknown  or  disregarded.  Sundry  attempts  have 
been  made  to  introduce  the  cultivation  of  such  vegetables 
as  the  soil  is  adapted  to  producing,  but  the  ignorance  and 
barbarity  of  the  inhabitants  prevented  their  appreciation 
of  the  advantages  which  would  result  from  the  operation, 
and  the  experiments  utterly  failed. 

Most  of  the  Fuegians  are  s..pplied  with  roughly-con- 
structed bark  canoes.  In  the  centre  of  these  a  fire  is 
always  kept  burning  upon  a  bed  of  sand  or  clay.  Fire  is 
obtained  by  striking  sparks  from  the  iron  pyrites  upon  a 
tinder  prepared  from  some  dried  fungus,  or  moss,  which 
materials  are  always  kept  at  hand;  but  the  difficulty  of 


Ml    go 

CO  (a 

f  the 

and, 

lent, 

ling. 

Lnn 

■A  'lies 

)ld  of 

more 

tliern 


THE  PATAGONIANS. 


GOf 


obtaining  a  flame  by  tliese  means  is  the  probable  reason 
for  their  care  in  preserving  the  embers  in  their  canoes. 

As  we  have  mentioned,  they  raise  no  vegetable  food, 
and  the  natural  products  of  the  country  are  exceedingly 
scanty.  All  that  the  inhabitants  can  procure  to  vaiy  their 
animal  diet  offish,  seals,  shell-fish,  &c.,  consists  of  "a  few 
berries,  as  the  cranberry  and  the  berry  of  tlie  arl)utus; 
also  a  fungus  like  t^io  oak-apple,  which  grows  on  the  birch- 
tree.  AVith  the  exception  of  these  spontaneous  produc- 
tions, and  dead  whales  thrown  occasionally  upon  the 
coast,  the  rest  of  their  food  must  be  obtained  by  their  own 
perseverance,  activity,  and  sagacity." 

A  race  of  dogs  is  domesticated  among  the  Fuegians,  by 
the  assistance  of  which  the  labor  and  difHculty  of  hunting 
the  guanaco,  otter,  &c.,  is  materially  alleviated.  The 
weapons  used  in  war  or  for  the  chase  are  bows  and  arrows, 
short  bone-headed  lances,  clubs,  and  slings.  The  Fuegians 
are  adepts  in  the  use  of  the  last-mentioned  implement,  and 
hurl  stones  with  great  force  and  accuracy. 

They  have  no  means  of  preserving  a  store  of  provision 
in  times  of  plenty,  and  are  consequently  liable  to  suffer 
greatly  from  famine  wdien  storms  or  other  causes  cut  them 
off  from  the  usual  resources  of  the  sea.  They  will  some- 
times bury  a  quantity  of  whale's  blubber  in  the  sand,  and 
devour  it  in  an  offensive  condition,  when  pressed  by  hun- 
ger. "In  Captain  Fitzroy's  narrative  there  is  an  account 
of  a  party  of  the  natives  who  were  in  a  famishing  state, 
on  which  some  of  the  tribe  departed,  observing  that  they 
would  return  in  four  'sleeps'  with  a  supply  of  food.  On 
the  fifth  day  they  arrived  in  a  state  of  great  exhaustion, 
each  in'""  carrying  two  or  three  pieces  of  whale-blubber, 
in  a  lialf-|mtrid  state,  and  which  appeared  as  if  it  had  been 
buried  in  the  sand.  A  hole  was  made  in  each  piece  through 
which  the  man  carrying  it  inserted  his  head  and  neck." 
Report  says  that,  as  a  last  resource,  when  other  food  can- 


•Ml 


( 

4 


634 


INDIAN   HACKS  OF  AMKKICA. 


not  be  obtaiucd,  the  Fucgians  kill  and  feed  vtinm  the  older 
and  more  unserviceable  members  of  their  own  community. 

The  benevolent  Fitzroy,  deejjly  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  these  unfortunate  islanders,  made  an  attempt,  in  IboO, 
to  effect  some  improvement  in  their  condition.  ITe  took 
four  of  them  with  him  to  PJngland,  one  of  whom  died  of 
the  small-pox  shortly  after  landing.  The  others  were 
maintained  and  instructed,  at  the  captain's  own  expense, 
until  October  of  the  following  year,  when  he  took  them 
on  boa^d  the  Beagle  to  return  to  their  homes,  and  use  their 
influence  in  introducing  the  arts  and  comforts  of  civiliza- 
tion. One  Matthews  accompanied  them  from  ICngland, 
with  the  purpose  of  assisting  their  efforts  among  tlieir 
countrymen. 

Arriving  at  Terra  del  Fuego,  wigwams  were  built,  and 
a  garden  was  laid  out  and  planted  with  various  European 
esculents.  Curiosity  and  astonishment  were  the  first  feel- 
ings excited  by  these  operations;  but  after  the  de})artiire 
of  the  captain,  the  rude  natives,  unable  to  comprehend  the 
motives  for  the  experiment,  an-d  incapable  of  a])prcciating 
the  advantages  in  store  for  them,  destroyed  the  little  plant- 
ation. Jemmy  Button,  the  one  most  particularly  described 
of  those  carried  to  England,  when  seen,  a  few  years  after- 
wards, by  Captain  Fitzroy,  had  nearly  relapsed  into  his 
original  state  of  squalid  barbarity.  ALatthews  left  the 
island,  upon  the  first  failure  of  the  attempt  at  agriculture. 

Could  there  be  found  men  of  sufficient  self-devotion  to 
be  willing  to  take  up  their  abode  in  such  a  dre<iry  country, 
there  seems  to  be  reason  to  believe  that  the  Fuegians  might 
be  reclaimed.  They  do  not  lack  sagacity  or  intelligence, 
and  their  memories  are  remai'kably  retentive.  It  is  said 
that  "they  could  repeat  with  perfect  correctness  each  word 
in  any  sentence  addressed  to  them,  and  they  remembered 
such  words  for  some  time." 

The  Fuegians  described  by  Commander  Wilkes,  as  seen 


THE   I'ATAGONIANS. 


(iiLo 


tl 


leir 


at  Orange  riaibor,  were  of  tlic  Peclicrais  tribe.  His  de- 
scriptions correspond  with  those  of  former  voyagers,  but 
their  interest  is  greatly  heiglitened  by  the  ilhistraiions 
which  accompany  his  valuable  narrative.  "They  arc," 
he  says,  "an  ill-shapen  and  ugly  race.  They  have  little 
or  no  idea  of  the  relative  value  of  articles,  even  of  those 
that  ojie  would  suppose  were  of  the  utmost  use  to  them, 
such  as  iron  and  glass-ware.  A  glass  bottle  broken  into 
pieces  is  valued  as  much  as  a  knife.  Red  flannel  torn  into 
stripes,  pleases  them  more  than  in  the  piece;  they  wound 
it  round  their  heads,  as  a  kind  of  turban,  and  it  was  amus- 
ing to  see  their  satisfaction  at  this  small  acouisition." 

The  Indians  of  this  party  wore  no  other  clothing  than 
a  small  piece  of  seal-skin  appended  to  the  shoulder  and 
reaching  to  the  waist.  This  was  shifted  from  side  to  side 
according  to  the  direction  of  the  wind,  serving  rather  as 
a  shelter  than  a  covering.  Their  bark  canoes  were  of 
exceedingly  slight  construction,  "sewed  with  shreds  of 
whale-bone,  seal-skin,  and  twigs."  Their  navigation  was 
mostly  confined  to  ihe  limits  of  the  kelp  or  sea-weed, 
where  the  water  was  calm,  and  they  could  assist  the  oper- 
ation of  their  small  and  mefiieient  paddles  by  laying  hold 
of  the  marine  plants. 

Those  natives  who  were  taken  on  board  the  vessels, 
exhibited  little  or  no  astonishment  at  what  they  saw  around 
them.  This  did  not  proceed  from  surliness  or  apathy,  for 
they  were  vivacious  and  cheerful,  and  apparently  ha])py 
and  contented.  A  most  uncontrollable  propensity  to  mim- 
icry prevented  the  establishment  of  any  kind  of  commu- 
nication, as,  instead  of  replying  to  signs  and  gestures,  they 
would  invariably,  imitate  them  with  ludicrous  exactness. 
''Their  imitations  of  sounds  were  truly  astonishing.  One 
of  them  ascended  and  descended  the  octave  perfectly,  fol- 
lowing the  sounds  of  the  violin  correctly.  It  wtis  then 
found  he  could  sound  the  common  chords,  and  follow 


!' 


636 


INuL'vV  HACKS  OF  AMERICA. 


through  the  semitone  scale,  with  scarcely  an  error.  *  *  * 
Although  they  have  been  heard  to  shout  quite  loud,  yet 
they  cannot  endure  a  noise.  When  the  drum  heat,  or  a 
gun  was  lired,  they  invariably  sto{)ped  their  ears.  ^I'liey 
always  speak  to  each  other  in  a  whisper.  Their  cautious 
manner  and  movements  prove  them  to  be  a  timid  race. 
The  men  are  exceedingly  jealous  of  their  women,  and 
will  not  allow  any  one,  if  they  can  help  it,  to  enter  their 
huts,  particularly  boys." 

When,  after  some  hesitation,  admittance  was  gained  to 
the  huts  on  shore:  "The  men  creeping  in  first,  squatted 
themselves  directlv  in  front  of  the  women,  all  holding  out 
the  small  })iece  of  seal-skin,  to  allow  the  heat  to  reach  their 
bodies.  The  women  were  squatted  three  deep  behind  the 
men,  the  oldest  in  front,  nestling  the  infants."  Most  writers 
speak  of  the  condition  of  the  Fuegian  women,  particularly 
of  this  race  of  Pecherais,  as  being  subjected  to  the  most 
severe  and  toilsome  drudgery.  "In  a  word,"  says  one, 
"the  Pecherais  women  are,  perhaps,  of  all  the  savage 
women  of  x\  merica,  those  whose  lot  is  the  hardest."  Those, 
however,  seen  at  Orange  Harbor  had  small  and  well-sha])ed 
hands  and  feet,  "and,  from  appearance,  they  are  not  accus- 
tomed to  do  any  hard  work." 

Some  vague  superstitious  belief  in  dreams,  omens,  Szc, 
with  the  idea  of  an  evil  spirit  in  the  embodiment  of  "a 
great  black  man,  supposed  to  be  always  wandering  about 
the  woods  and  mountains,  who  is  certain  of  knowing 
every  word  and  every  action,  who  cannot  be  escaped,  and 
who  influences  the  weather  according  to  men's  conduct," 
is  all  that  is  observable  of  religious  conceptions  on  the 
part  of  the  natives.  They  have,  connected  with  each 
tribe  or  casual  groupe,  a  man  whom  their  fancy  invests 
with  the  power  of  sorcerer  and  physician;  occupying 
precisely  tlie  same  position  with  that  of  the  "powows"  of 
North  America 


IMPORTANT   ERAS  AND  DATES 

or 
INTERESTING   EVENTS   IN   INDIAN    HISTORY. 


A.  D. 

544. 

648. 

982. 

U8.J. 
1008. 
1051. 
1070. 
1170. 

1325. 
1492. 

1498. 

1500. 

1501. 
1509. 
1518. 

1519. 

1520. 

1521. 


1524, 

1528. 


1531, 
1532, 


1533, 
1535, 


The  Tolti'cs,  according  to  iinciont  traditions,  (•ommenced    tlieir 

migration  from  tlic.  north  to  the  vale  of  Anahuuc,  or  Mexico. 
The  Toitecs  arrived  at  Tollantzineo,  in  Anahuac. 
Eirei<  the  Red  di.scovered  Greenhmd,  and  planted  a  colony  there. 
Uiarni  Ileriult'son  di.scovered  the  American  coast. 
Thorlinn  Karlsefni  planted  a  colony  in  New  England. 
The  'J'oltecs  destroyed  by  a  pestilence. 

The  barharous  nation  of  the  Chichimecas  succeeded  the  Toitecs. 
The  Nahuatlaci.s  or  Seven  Tribes,  among  whom  were  the  Aztecs, 

commenced  their  migration  from  the  nortli. 
The  Aztecs  founded  the  city  of  ancient  Me.v'co. 
Oct.  12.  Columbus  landed  at  Guanahani,  o'  Cat  Island,  on  hia  first 

voyage  of  discovery. 
Columbus  first  touched  the  shores  of  South  America,  and  held 

intercourse  with  the  Aravvaka. 
Jan.  2(3.  Vicente  l''.:;zon  landed  near  Cape  St.  Augustine,  at  the 

eastern  extremity  of  South  America,  and  took  formal  posse.s,-,ion. 
Portuguese  discoverers,  under  V^espucius,  landed  at  Brazil. 
Ju.in  de  Solis  slain  by  the  natives  at  the  estuary  of  La  I'lata. 
L.  Vel:is(|uez  de  Aylloii  landed  on  the  Carolina  coast  in  search  of 

Indian  slaves  and  gold. 

Nov,  8.  Cortez  entered  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  held  his  fir.st  inter- 
view with  tiie  Emperor  Montezuma. 
Night  of  July  1.  The  "Noche  Triste,"  on  which  the  Spiuiiards 

made  tlieir  disastrous  retreat  from  the  city  of  Mexico. 
Towards  the  close  of  May,  the  Spaniards,  with  reinforcements, 

having  again  advanced  upon  the  Aztec  capital,  l:dd  close  siege  to  it. 
Aug.  13.  Gautimozin,  successor  to  Montezuma,  was  taken  prisoner, 

and  the  city  fell  into  the  power  of  the  Spanish  invadcr.s. 
Nov.  Francisco  Pizarro  sailed  on  his  first  expedition  to  Pern. 
E.xpcditiou  of  Pamphilo  de  N.irvaez  to  Florida,  with  a  jj.irty  of 

four  hundred  men.    About  forty  horses  were  landed — the  lir.^t 

ever  seen  by  the  natives. 
I'izarro  landed  and  established  himself  in  Peru. 
.Nov.  15.  Entry  of  Pizarro  into  Ca.xamalca,  and  first  interview  of 

his  oliici-rs  with  the  Inca,  Atahualipa. 
Nov.  ir>.  Horrible  m.issacre  of  the  Indians,  and  seizure  of  the  Inca. 
Aug.  29.  Atahualipa  infamously  put  to  death,  by  the  garrotte. 
Nov.  Entry  of  tlie  S[);iniards  into  Cuzco,  the  capital  of  Peru. 
Almagro's  expedition  into  Chili. 


) .'  1 


i' 


r 


638 

A.  D. 

1538. 

1540. 
1552. 
1553. 

1555. 

155(). 
1558. 
I,0fi2. 

1584. 

1585. 


1.595. 

15138. 

1606. 

1G08. 


1613. 

1614. 

1617. 
1618. 
16'J0. 

u 

16:21, 
162:2, 

162.5. 

1628, 

1637, 


1640, 


INDIAN  KACES  OF  AMEUICA. 

May.  Ft'iiiaiido  dc  Soto  ImikU'cI  at  Tamjni  Bay.    The  bloody  scencd 

attendant  upon  tlie  eonriuest  of  Floridii  ensued. 
i*edro  Valdivia'.s  inva.sion  of  Cliili. 
His  j»i-ojrre.s.s  llirongli  Aran  ;u. 
J)«T.  3.  (ireat  It.ittli'  lietween  the  Spaniards  tind  the  Arancanians, 

in  vviiii  li  the  latter,  under  Caupoliean,  gained   i  signal  vietory. 
Tile  Spanisli  town  of  Coiieeptio:i  attaciied  and  de.stioyed  by  the 

Araneani;ms,  under  Lautaro. 
l/iutaro  .surprised  and  shiiii  hy  Villagran. 

K.xpedition  of  (jaivia  de  iMendoza  to  tlie  archipelago  of  Chiloe. 
Freneh  refugees  settled  peaceably  among  the  Indiana  on  the  St. 

John's  river,  Florida. 
Ainidas  and  Harlow  opened  u  friendly  intercourse  with  the  Vir- 
ginia Indians. 
Those  belonging  to  Sir  Richard  Grenville's  expedition  to  Virginia 

coinmenced  outrages  and  hostilities,  wliieh  resulted  in  the  de- 
struction of  several  successive  colonies. 
Raleigh  entered  the  Orinoco,  and  held  intercourse  with  the  natives. 
Nov.  (ireat  rising  of  the  Chilians,  under  the  Toqui  I'aillaniaehu: 

expulsion  of  the  Sp.miards  from  the  Araucanian  territory. 
Bartholomew  (Josnoll's  expedition  to  Virginia;  with  which  the 

celebrated  Captain  John  Smith  was  connected. 
June.  Smith's  exploration  of  tlie  Chesapeake,  his  first  meeting 

with  the  Massawomeke.s,  or  Iroquois. 
In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  Powhatan  was  formally  crowned — the 

regalia  having  been  sent  over  from  England. 
Dec.  Powhatan's  con.spiiaey  against  Smith  and  his  party,  and  their 

prcservjition  by  Pocahontas. 
Pocahontas  seized  and  detained  by  Captain  Argall. 
April.  iMarriage  of  Pocahontas  to  John  Rolfe. 
'J'homas  Hunt  landed  at  IMonhegan,  and  enticed  twenty-four  In- 
dians on  board  his  vessel,  whom  he  carried  to  Europe  as  slaves. 
Pocahontas  died,  at  Gravesend,  in  England. 
Powhatan  uied. 

Nov.  9.  The  May-Flower  arrived. 

Die.  8.  First  skirmish  of  the  N.  England  settlers  with  the  natives. 
Dfc.  22.  Their  landing  at  Plymouth. 

March  22.  Treaty  between  the  Plymouth  settlers  and  Mas.sasoit. 
March  22.  Great  mass.icre  of  the  Virginia  settlers,  by  the  Indians, 

set  on  by  Opechaneanough :  tliree  hundred  and  forty-seven  killed. 
Great  battle  with  the  Caribson  the  island  of  St.  Christopher;  two 

thousand  of  that  nation  destroyed. 
Fire-arms  extensively  diffused  among  the  Indians  of  New  England, 

by  Dutch  traders  and  one  Thomtis  Morton. 
The  I'equod  VVar  broke  out:    siege  of  the  English  garrison  at 

Say  brook. 
June  5.  A  little  before  day  the  Pequod  fort  attacked  and  destroy. 

ed;  barbarous  destruction  of  women  and  children. 
Peace  concluded  between  the  Spanish  colonists  under  Francisco 

Zuniga,  and  the  Araucanians. 


IMl'Oin'AN'T  EUAS  AND  DATES. 


639 


A.  D. 

lf)-13.  Ariiintoiiimo  put  to  dcaih  \>y  Uncjis. 

lt)44.  Sccoiifl  Virjfiiiiii  iniissjicr*',  pliiiiiifd  liy  Oiu'chfim'.'vnongh. 

1053.  Tlu,'  luitioii  of  tile  Kries  extiM-iiiiiiiitid  by  the  Inxjuois, 

H)()'J.  I'liilij),  or  i\I('t:H'(iiui-t.  siu'ci'edi'tl  his  l)n»thcr  Aloxiiiidcr. 

ItiUr).  IVai'D  iijf.iiii  cunchKhd  Iji'twccM  the  S|>;ini;ir(lH  and  Araui'.'Uiiaus. 

D)7,">.  June  24.  ().  S.  First  lijuotl  slied  in  Kinjf  I'iiilip's  war. 

1()7;').  Dee.  lit.  Destructioii  oftiie  NairayanMtt  fort. 

lt)"(j.  AiiTf.  1-J.  I'hilip  kiiii'd  hynii  Iiidi.'.n  of  Captain  Chnrcii's  party. 


\l\H-2. 
IfiHH. 
1710. 
1711. 
1713. 


Au<r.  Capture  of  Annawon,  liy  tJhureh,  and  end  of  the  war, 


II  1  cnn 


with  tile  Delawares. 


Dee.  First  treaty  of  W'illiaii 

Invasion  of  Canada,  and  attacl<  on  Montreil  liy  the  Inupiois. 
First  deputation  of  Iroquois  chiefs  to  the  eourt  of  Queen  Anne. 
Sept.  22.  Massaeri'  of  wiiites  in  Nortli  Carolina,  liy  the  Tusearor;is, 
Mareli  *2f).  The  Tusearora  fort  on  Tar  river  destroyed  liy  Colonel 

.Moore, — eijrht  iiundred  prisoners  t.iken. 
Union  of  the  main  body  of  the  Tusearor.is  with  tlie  IriKpiols. 
1729.  Nov.  30.  Massaere  of  the  French  inhaliitants  of  Natchez,  by  the 

Natchez  Indians. 
1738.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  Clierokees  destroyed  by  tiie  sniall-pox. 
174!).  Sin<nil;ir  Intriinies  of  the  Reverend  Thomas  Bosoinworth  and  his 

wife,  the  hulf-breed,  Mary  Mnsgrove,  amonj,'  the  Creeks. 
175U.  Settlement  of  ditlieidties  between  Spanisli  and  Fortnyuese  colonies 
on  tiie  river  Ijal'hita — thirty  thousand  (jnarani  Indians  expatriated. 
1755.  July  i).  Disastrous  defeat  of  (Jenrral  JJraddoek,  by  the  French  and 

Indians,  a  few  miles  from  Foit  Duquesne. 
K.jO.  Winter.  War  between  the  Clierokees  and  the  British  colonists. 
1700.  Spring.  Colonel  .AFontgomery's  expedition  against  the  Clu.'rokees 

destruction  of  ail  their  towns  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
17(il.  Spring.  Colonel  Crant's  e.impaign  against  the  Cherokees:  their 

reduction,  and  the  ravage  of  their  towns  in  tlie  interior. 
1763.  May.  Siege  of  Detroit  commenced  by  Foiitiac. 

July  30.  Battle  of  Bloody  Bridge,  and  terrible  destruction  of  Eng- 
lisli  troops  under  Captain  Dalyell,  by  Fontiac  and  his  warriors. 

1773.  Feace  concluded  between  the  Spaniards  and  the  Araucanians. 

1774.  In  the  spring  of  this  year  commenced  the  bloody  war  in  Western 

Virginia  and  Fennsylvania,  known  as  Cresap's  war. 
"      Oct.  10.  Great  battle  at  Foint  Fleasaiit— mouth  of  the  Kanawha. 

1777.  July.  Battle  ofOiiskany;  General  Herkimer  mortally  wounded. 

1778.  July  4.  Destruction  of  the  settlements  in  the  valley  of  Wyoming. 
"      Nov.  Massacre  at  Cherry-Valley. 

1779.  Sept.  General  Sullivan's  campaign  against  the  Iroquois:  destruc- 

tion of  all  their  towns,  crops,  fruit-tiee-s,  and  stores. 

1780.  Aug.  Ravage  of  a  portion  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  by  Br.int. 
1781.(jreat  insurrection  of  the  Feruvian  Indians,  under  Tupac  Amaru 

"      June.  Grand  council  of  war  held  by  the  western  tribes. 

"      Defeat  of  Colonels  Todd,  Trigg,  and  party,  near  the  Blue  Licks. 

"      Indian  townsofChilicothe,Fecaway,&c., destroyed  byGen. Clarke. 

1785.  Brant  visited  England,  and  was  received  with  Hattering  attention. 

1786.  Dec.  Grand  Council  of  Western  Indians,  at  Huron  Village. 
1791.  Autumn.  Unsuccessful  expedition  of  General  Harmar. 


720 

A.D. 
1791. 

1794. 

1804. 

1809. 

ISiO. 

1811. 

1813. 

1813 

1813. 

1814. 

1823. 

1829. 

1830. 

1831. 

18S2. 

u 

1835. 


1836, 

1836, 
1837, 

1838, 
1842, 


INCLUDINO   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Nov.  4.  Dis.iatroua  rlnfoi.t  of  General  St.  Clair,  by  the  Indi.inn, 

under  Little  Turtle,  neiir  the  Miiinii. 
Auy.  20.  fiattlc  of  I'lescjiie  isle,  ill  which  the  Western  Indinna, 

muier  Jlhie  Jacket,  were  siynally  defeated  by  (ieiieral  Wayne. 
Elskwataw!!,   the   jiroithet,    brother   of   Tecuniaoh,   engaged   in 

intrigues  nmong  the  tribes  of  the  west. 
Sept.  Cession   of   lands  on   the  Wabash,  obtained  by  General 

Harrison  from  the  Indians. 
Departure  of  Tecumseh  southward,  for  the  purpose  of  ri/.'sing 

up  llie,  Creeks,  Cherokee.s,  &e. 
Ni<flit  of  Nov.  <).  Battle  at  the  Prophet's  Town,  in  which  Elskw;i- 

t  '.v  I's  forces  were  defeated  and  dispersed  by  General  Harrison. 
Aug.  JO.  Sack  of  Fort  Minuus,  in  the  Tensau  settlement,  by  I'lo 

great  vJrcek  warrior  Weatlierford,  with  fifteen  hundred  Indians. 
Oct.  6.  Battle  of  tl.e  Thames:  the  great  Indian  chief  Tecumseh 

killed. 
Nov.  29.  liaitle  of  Autosse;  destruction  of  two  hundred  Indians 

by  General  Floyd's  forces,  aid    1  by  Indian  allies  led  by  M'lntosh. 

March  27.  Battle  of  Horse-shoe  Bend,  in  the  Talbipoosie:  tho 

Creeks  and  other  southern  Indians  defeated  by  General  Jackson. 
Sept.  18.  Treaty  of  Moultrie  CreeK,  by  v.  hich  the  Seminoles  were 

to  reniovts  within  certain  limits. 
Dee.  20.  Acts  passed  by  the  Georgia  legislature,  ainiulling  the 

Cherokee  laws,  and  int'ringiiig  upon  th((  rights  of  that  people. 
July.  Treaty  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  lowas, 

Siou.\,  &.C.,  concerning  cession  of  lands  east  of  the  Mi-ssissippi. 
June.  General  Gaines'  expedition,  to  compel  removal  ol  the  Sacs. 
IMay  8.  Treaty  of  Payne's  Landing,  by  the  provisions  of  which 

til  J  Seminoles  were  to  remove  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
May  14.  Defeat  of  jNiajor  Stillman  and  his  forces,  by  Black-Hawk. 
Aug.  2.  Black-Hawk's  forces  defeated  by  General  Atkinson. 

"      27.  Surrender  of  Blaek-Hawk  and  the  Prophet. 
Oct.  The  Florida  War  commenced. 
Dec.  Treaty  of  New  Echotii  with  the   Cherokees,  (known   as 

Seliermerhorivs  treaty)  upon  the  subject  of  removal   of  that 

nation  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Dec.  28,  Destruction  of  Dade's  detachment,  by  the  Seminoles. 
March  14.  Schermerhorn's  treaty  with  the  Cherokees  ratified  by 

Congress. 
Spring.  General  Scott's  campaign  in  Florida. 
Jan.  22,  Ceneral  Jessup  moved  southward  towards  the  everglades 

in  pursuit  of  the  Seminoles. 
Oct.  3.  Black-Hawk  died,  at  the  age  of  73, 
The  Florida  war  at  an  end:  several  hundred  Indians  tiansported 

west  of  the  Mississippi. 


1/ 


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